Theme ‘Fun For All’ Sums Up Another Memorable Labor Day Parade

 

Newtown’s Labor Day Parade had “Newtown — Fun For All” as its theme this year, and between the spectacular weather, the floats, the marching bands, those who marched, and the countless spectators who lined a number of Newtown’s streets on Monday morning, the 43rd annual parade was indeed fun for all.

The parade stepped off right on time off at 10 am, with Connecticut’s American Legion Color Guard leading the 109 groups that formed the lineup on September 6. There were a few pauses along the way, and one noticeable gap when three vehicles in The Pyramid Shriners Motor Control broke down and needed to be towed, but the weather and social atmosphere once again combined with months of planning by volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to present another successful end-of-summer celebration.

While marchers, drivers, and guests made their way down Main Street, pilots Brendan Baker and Michael Fitzsimons flew overhead. Mr Fitzsimons thrilled the crowd each time he zoomed low over Main Street in a B-17 “Flying Fortress,” as did Mr Baker in his power parachute with its familiar red, white, and blue markings.

Grand Marshal Gordon Williams and his wife Lina were chauffeured along the parade route by John Kopins, who was driving the fire engine red 1966 Ford Mustang convertible the Lions are raffling this year. Once the Williamses, the Labor Day Parade Committee, and the guest judges were in place at the reviewing stand on Queen Street, the parade continued past them, clocking in this year at just over two hours.

This year’s judges were Kim Connolly, Janie Cross, Heather Law, Pat McCullough, Donna Norling, and Rose DeSimone. Their selections for the 2004 awards and trophies are as follows:

Best Musical Entry, Senior: CT Alumni Senior Drum & Bugle Corps;

Best Musical Entry, Senior (Runner-Up): Mattatuck Drum Band;

Best Musical Entry, Junior: Newtown High School Marching Nighthawks;

Best Musical Entry, Junior (Runner-Up): Grassy Plains Band;

Best Float: Paproski Farm/The Sugar Laners;

Best Float (Runner-Up): Newtown Savings Bank;

Best Fire Company: Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue;

Best Non-Musical Entry: Housatonic Antique Tractor Club;

Best Non-Musical (Runner-Up): Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard;

Best School: Newtown Middle School;

The Rooster Award (Most Crowd Pleasing): Sons of Portugal Dance Group and The St Rose Cheerleaders (tied).