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Fourth of July Parade Committee

2009 Event Information 

Committees: Fourth of July Parade Committee

Fourth of July Parade Committee

It is the responsibility of the July 4th Parade Committee to plan ,organize and raise funds for the annual Independence Day Parade , as well as the Band Concert by The Satuit Band at the Harbor.  The floats, marchers, and bands are provided by different organizations.  The fundraisers pay for the marching bands as well as the historic civil & revolutionary war marching units that everyone enjoys during the parade. Since the beginning of the nineties, the committee has raised the funds necessary to hire the bands, the reenactment marching units and the band concert.  The major fundraisers are the golf tournament and sale of our buttons, Donations are always welcome.

2008 Report

It is the responsibility and pleasure of the July 4th Parade Committee to plan, organize and raise funds for the annual Independence Day Parade  as well as the Band Concert by The Satuit Band at the Harbor. The members of the parade committee begin planning in January.   Many community organizations participate as walking units or floats that many have spent months designing and creating hoping to win Best of the Parade.

Since the beginning of the nineties, the committee has raised the funds necessary to hire the bands, the reenactment marching units and the band concert.  The major fundraisers are the golf tournament held at South Shore Country Club sponsored by AW Perry, Talbots and Eastern Bank to name a few, along with the sale of our buttons with the assistance of the Hingham-Hull Rotary Club.  Donations are always welcome from local businesses and individual citizens!

In keeping with tradition that dates back more than 150 years, the 2008 Hingham Fourth of July Parade was the “best ever” according to many spectators lining the parade route.  Local attorney George Ford made his debut as “Uncle Sam” taking over from Dr. Al Carpenter (after many, many years of service), leading the parade with Ginny Gray of Hingham/Hull Rotary riding close behind, in her powder blue convertible.
 
The 2008 parade theme was “Hingham Celebrates Learning”; that honored the many local schools, learning centers, and the overall value Hingham places on learning. Dr. Dorothy Galo, superintendent of Hingham Public Schools was very appropriately named Grand Marshal.  Dr. Galo was born and raised in Hingham and celebrated her 40th year in education this year. We want to thank Fred Shaw of Shaw Saab for graciously donating and driving the car that the Grand Marshal rides in every year.

Each year the fifth grade classes from Hingham’s three elementary schools compete for the best illustration representing the year’s parade theme.  For 2008 the winning design was drawn by Brianne Pungitore of Foster School; her drawing of a float with the Library, The Community Center, and a school perfectly reflected the theme!  The winning image is made into our fundraiser buttons, which are sold at various local events and businesses, and by members of the Hingham/Hull Rotary club the day of the parade.

This year’s music was outstanding and included more than 13 bands including: The Boston Crusaders Senior Drum & Bugle Corp., The Satuit Band, The Roma Band, and St. Alfios Band just to name a few. There were approximately 16 floats from local organizations and residents, marching groups representing town youth and high school athletic teams as well as everyone’s favorite, the Crow Point Marching Kazoo Band!

This year the Hingham High Girls Hockey 2008 State Champions participated as proud Hinghamites shouted congratulations. The Hingham High Boys Hockey Team and Alumni marched in memory of long time Hingham High Boy’s Hockey Coach, Garrett Reagan, who passed away suddenly in June 2008.  It was a very touching tribute that allowed the community of Hingham to celebrate the spirit and life of Coach Reagan.

The Hingham Militia and the Red Coats were just a few of the highlights of our reenactment groups from the civil and revolutionary wars. The antique and classic cars as well as ponies and horses rounded out the parade participants.  There were nearly 9,000 spectators lining the parade route enjoying the event.

The annual Stars and Stripes Golf Tournament was a success again this year, although both fiscal support and participation was down as more people felt the slowing economy.  Many thanks go to our major sponsor, A.W. Perry, and Gold Sponsors Talbot’s & Eastern Bank.

We are very thankful for the support of ALL of our sponsors and golfers.  Their support allows us to hire the bands and marching units that everyone enjoys. A complete listing of our Sponsors is available on our website www.hingham-ma.gov under committees.
 
The parade committee greatly appreciates the support given by the residents and the many Town Departments.  In particular we would like to thank Lt. Glenn Olsson of the Hingham Police Department for being our liaison, the entire Police and Fire Departments, Joe Stigliani, former Superintendent of the DPW, and the entire Department of Public Works who work so diligently to make sure everything is set up and cleaned up before and after the parade. Also, Dr. Dorothy Galo, Superintendent of Hingham Public Schools and the 5th grade Art Teachers for helping with the button design every year, and Aquarian Water Company for providing water to parade participants.

Special thanks to Charlie Cristello, former Town Administrator, for his many years of continued strong support. We wish him well in his new position with the Town of Middleboro. We appreciate the continued support and guidance of the Selectman and their administrative assistants, Betty Foley, Betty Tower and Marilyn Harrington.  Sue Nickerson and Jan Jacobson of the Town Accountants office, you are awesome.  The Committee is most appreciative of your efforts. The committee would also like to thank Mary Ford, Editor and Carol Britton Meyer, Reporter for The Hingham Journal for their ongoing support, and publicity.

If you would like to be a part of the committee or participate in the parade or golf tournament please contact Mary Ann Blackmur 781-603-7864 or mblackmur@comcast.net .