Many Helped Make The Parade

A Success

To the Editor:

A big thank you to everyone who participated and attended this year’s Labor Day Parade. Once again the wonderful people of Newtown proved just how much they love their parade. The response to our request for donations was tremendous and we were able to reach our goal and cover all expenses associated with the parade.

Every year it is still so rewarding for committee members to see the parade route lined with chairs the night before the parade, and then, all the happy, smiling faces the day of the parade. Thank you so much Newtown for all of your support.

Special thanks to parade committee members, Brian Amey, Ann Marie Deweese, Terri Bell, Laurel Butler, Nancy Koch, and Helen Seferi. This is a special group of people who volunteer their time to ensure that this special tradition in Newtown continues each Labor Day.

A big thank you to our emcees, John Klopfenstein, Mike Giarratano, MaryAnn Murtha and Jeff Tilson. Thank you for an outstanding job entertaining the crowd.

Thank you also, to our judges, Kim Connolly, Janie Cross, Rose DeSimone, Heather Law, Pat McCullough, and Donna Norling.

To Mike Fitzsimons, a special thank you for the thrill you gave parade spectators when you flew over the parade route in the B-17. Your timing in flying over the parade precisely when a band was playing “America, the Beautiful” was simply amazing.

Thank you to our street directors who ensure that each participant is in the right order and marching on time, Andy Cluff, Mike Giarratano, Al Huppenthal, Tom Murtha, Danny Murtha, Peter Tomasulo, Jim Setz, and Adam Seferi.

Special thanks to the following businesses and organizations who helped make this parade possible, The Newtown Police Department, Bagel Delight, The Newtown Bee, Chuck Hull Landscaping, Northeastern Communications Denise Buckley and Phyllis Page, Honan Funeral Home, Newtown Savings Bank, Nick Kopcik, RER, My Place Pizza, Hilarios, Dunkin’ Donuts, The Newtown Lion’s Club, Newtown Rotary, Lexington Gardens, Drug Center, and Dr Henry N. Gellert.

Finally, a very special thank you to our Grand Marshal Gordon Williams. Thank you Gordon for all that you have done and continue to do in making Newtown a better place to live.

Sincerely,

Kym Stendahl, Parade Committee President

9 Hanover Road, Newtown                                    September 8, 2004