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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.

2009 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 sale of our buttons with the assistance of the Hingham-Hull Rotary Club as well as donations from local corporations. AW Perry was the premier sponsor once again this year. 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 led the parade as “Uncle Sam” followed by the VFW and Police Dept Color Guards and the Hingham Militia. Thanks to Fred Shaw of Shaw Saab for driving our Grand Marshals Eileen McCracken & Bob Fournier. Not far behind driving the button winners, Kevin Shoyer, Maddy Townsend & Katie Steeves was Ginny Gray from the Hingham/Hull Rotary in her baby blue convertible.

The 2009 parade theme was “Hingham Favorite Places”. Kevin Shoyer was the button design winner with his beautiful drawing of the gazebo at the harbor with fireworks in the background.

Grand marshals were husband and wife Eileen McCracken & Bob Fournier. Eileen is Hingham’s Town Clerk as well as a favorite with children and adults alike in her role as Leenie the Clown. In addition to Eileen’s many duties as Town Clerk, Eileen also is a volunteer at St. Paul’s Church. Bob Fournier is the Armorer of the Hingham Armory as well as videographer for all the local selectmen meetings that are telecast on local cable.

This year’s music was outstanding and including the first year participants the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corp from New London, CT. Many of our favorite bands returned such as: The Boston Crusaders Senior Drum & Bugle Corp., The Satuit Band, The Roma Band, and St. Alfios Band. The Shriner Clowns once again entertained us all along the parade route with their amusing antics and crazy cars. There were approximately 20 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!

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 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, Randy Sylvester 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 for the continued support and guidance of the Selectman and their administrative assistants, Betty Foley, Betty Tower and Marilyn Harrington. The Town Accountants office Sue Nickerson and Lynn Phillips, we appreciate your patience. Steve Becker and Kate Richardson you are awesome. We appreciate all your efforts updating the website. The committee would also like to thank Mary Ford, Editor of The Hingham Journal and Carol Britton Myer 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 .