By Kaaren Valenta

A

A canon boomed, a B-17 flew overhead, and the strains of “My Country Tis of Thee” filled the air as a crane lifted one of the largest flags in the country high into the air on Monday to begin the 40th anniversary celebration of the Newtown Labor Day Parade. “The weather… the flag… it was all so wonderful. We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” gushed parade committee co-chairman Kym Stendahl.

Newtown’s 40th annual Labor Day Parade stepped off with the Newtown High School marching band leading five parade divisions consisting of more than 145 entries – bands, floats, schools, churches, fire companies, veterans’ groups, antique car and tractor clubs, businesses, organizations, civic groups and politicians – all joining to commemorate this year’s theme: “Let’s Celebrate Newtown’s Natural Beauty.”

Octogenarians Mary Mitchell and Albert Goodrich, authors of the Newtown Trails Book and Touring Newtown’s Past, were the parade marshals. Mary Ann Murtha, who first saw the nation’s largest flag and helped arrange to bring it to Newtown, was the emcee with Mike Giarratano at the reviewing stand in front of the police station, where parade judges Nancy Kotch, Geoff Allison, Karen Finlayson, Marsha Moskowitz, and Andy and Beth Cluff had the difficult task of deciding which groups would win the day’s coveted trophies. 

It was a special day for many in the parade. Standing in front of the reviewing stand, Bill Curry announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor. Newtown’s NICE Party made its first appearance in a Labor Day Parade, Bruce Moulthrop was back as Uncle Sam after a hiatus of several years, and local and state politicians waved at the crowds lining the parade route.

Emcees Laura Buzaid and Dr Henry Gellert were stationed at the flagpole. There was no reviewing stand on Queen Street this year because of the flag ceremony.

Connecticut Chapter 134 of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) won the Rooster Award as the crowd pleaser for its float that replicated The Pleasance, the park created by The Bee Publishing Company at Main and Sugar Streets.

Lee Glover, who as chief of Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Company in 1962 served as grand marshal in the first Labor Day Parade, held his company’s banner this year as the firefighters marched to a winning trophy as the best fire company.

Other winners included:

Best musical entry, senior: Mattatuck Drum Band; runner-up: Connecticut Alumni Drum & Bugle.

Best musical entry, junior: Grassy Plain Drum Corps; runner-up: CWV Drum & Bugle Corps.

Best float: (tie) Garden Club of Newtown and the Church of Latter Day Saints; runners-up: (tie) Children’s Adventure Center and Newtown Middle School Spokes Club.

Best school: Sandy Hook.

Best Non-Musical Entry: Paproski Farm; runner-up: Newtown Historical Society.

The parade committee included Mrs Stendahl, co-chairman Lisa Franze, Brian Amey, Ann Marie DeWeese, Dale Meier, and Helen Seferi.

Donations to support the Labor Day Parade fell far short of the goal this year, leaving the committee without enough funds to do the preparations for next year’s parade. Donations may be sent to Labor Day Parade, c/o Brian Amey, Fleet Bank, 6 Queen Street, Newtown 06470.