Fourth Of July Parade Gets Big Response From The Community
Submitted by the Berlin Parade Committee
It’s fair to say that the Berlin July 4th parade committee had some apprehension hosting this year’s event. The response and support of our community put those fears to rest. What a fantastic event!
The signs and supplies are stored and will be ready for 2021, so those individuals making the personal decision to avoid any exposure risk, while missed, can be confident they can be a part of next year’s parade.
Thanking the participants spans the gamut that represents America. Fathers (from the Greatest Generation) with sons on antique tractors to Mothers and daughters on horseback only scratches the surface. The time, creativity, detail and originality presented in the various floats was amazing. This includes the “toy float” representing several iconic items like Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs (actually manufactured here in Berlin at Cowee), Speak-Easies, Women’s Vote, Bootleg hooch, antique cars, and needless to say, the multiple fire crews with their polished rigs made the event memorable.
We thank the Red Caps Marching Band, which participates every year, for coming and providing the music for the parade. We thank the Dairy Princess and her Ambassador and the Boy Scouts.
We thank the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department for helping with traffic control as well as County Executive Steve McLaughlin, County Clerk Frank Merola and Judge Debra Young for participating in our parade.
The Grand Marshal this year was our health care workers, and the banner was carried by Girl Scouts because the various health care workers from the area were working. How’s that for confirmation of their commitment to serve?
Billy Osterhout, who faithfully stages our parade every year, had the wit to move all the EMS squads to the front of the line. Thanks for the detail, Billy.
The Eastwick Press and their readership needs a “nod.” Our newspaper’s support of the parade and expanded reach was obvious from the ‘first time attendees.’ The diversity of the attendees is an indication of the greatness that is America. Tie-dye to MAGA, diapers to walkers were visible evidence that the things that unite us are greater than those that divide us.
This year the last entrant completing “the walk” was several Berlin graduates of 2020 representing their class. Hearing the cheers and well-wishes from the gallery, one could not help but feel the promise and faith in their abilities to make a difference.
To everyone who attended, either physically or otherwise, greatest appreciation for the reminder of the things that make America great.