Reactions To The Parade

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Labor Day Parade Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to respond to some of the recent letters to the editor. First let me say thank you to the parade onlookers for your input and feedback. As a committee, we are always interested in learning from each year’s parade.

The Parade Committee has always encouraged the audience to show proper respect to the flag as well as to the military entrants. Who can forget the Nation’s Flag that we all carried down Main Street in 2001? However, point well taken…next year the committee will include in the Parade Program and from the emcees a reminder of appropriate patriotic protocol.

Due to the response from our 2008 parade, the committee felt obliged to slim down the parade in terms of length and expense (keep in mind that we raise and pay out approximately $20,000 each year in order to put on the parade). In an effort to shorten the length of the parade, the committee requested that all entries limit themselves to a total of three vehicles. Additionally, this year we requested that commercial entries make a donation of $100 for a creative float or $200 for a vehicle plus $50 for each additional vehicle with a maximum of three vehicles. Again, this was our way of trying to encourage creative entrants, limit the length of the parade, and support the financial cause of the parade with the burden of funding falling to the commercial entries.

As to the issue of helmets, next year we will do our best to require and encourage use of proper safety equipment. As the mother of a skateboarder, I too would love for the parade to encourage safety in all sports.

Thank you again Newtown for your support and your input.

Sincerely,

Beth Caldwell

Newtown Labor Day Parade Committee President

2 Pinnacle Drive, Newtown                                  September 15, 2009