Community Corner
'The Fourth Of July, The Parade, That's Brandon'
Brandon showed up in mass for the 2013 Fourth of July Parade, described by some organizers as one of the largest turnouts in recent years.
Peggs Stuart sat at the sidelines of a parade that for more than two decades she helped to run as a volunteer with the Community Roundtable, formerly known as the Presidents' Roundtable, or Roundtable Charities of Greater Brandon.
"I wanted to come to see what I didn't have to work to organize," said Stuart, who's health this year precluded her from having a greater role behind the scenes. It afforded her a chance, she said, to see from the spectator's eye the pomp and circumstance of a grand parade deeply rooted in small-town traditions.
"We've had a parade for more than 50 years and it's great to keep that tradition up," she said. "Even though we're a larger community now, we want that small-town feel. The Fourth of July, the Parade, that's Brandon."
"It was a great day for a parade," said Sam Creaseman, president of the Roundtable. "It looks like we had a bigger crowd than last year, which is just fantastic."
"The energy was exceptional," said volunteer Mark Nash. "If you missed the parade this year you missed a chance to appreciate a piece of Americana at its best."
A lot of "blood, sweat and tears" went into this year's parade, he added.
"That's what keeps Brandon going, people who want to get involved and give of themselves and their time to this community," Nash said.
Earlier in the day, before the start of the parade, four candidates for honorary mayor of Brandon submitted their checks, for money raised in their charity races during the month of June. Collectively, the four candidates raised close to $80,000, with Jack Bartlett, of Bartlett Custom Homes, coming out on top.
"I've been coming to the parade since 1978, and in 1998, 1999, I started bringing my kids, Brooke and Brice," Bartlett said. "I know a lot of the past mayors so I've got to do a good job and raise more money for charities, and not just mine."
Many of the town's charities marched in the parade, along with units and floats representing politicians, businesses, schools, dance schools, sports and recreation clubs and organizations, veterans, seniors, motorcycle clubs and more.
Among the parade's dignitaries were Bartlett, as honorary mayor; Betty Jo Tompkins, as the 2013 Alice B. Tompkins Community Service Award recipient; Sean Allen and his daughter, Sarah, who wrote the winning essay that earned her dad Father of the Year honors; Zora Millerleile, winner of the Maureen Krzanowski scholarship; Olympic diver Chris Colwill, this year's grand marshal; and Marie Cain, the parade chair.
"It feels really awesome, I've never been in a parade before," said Sarah Allen.
"It makes me proud of her," said top dad Sean Allen. "It's great to see in writing what your kids feel about you."
"It was amazing to ride in the parade," said Tompkins, who is no relation to the woman in whose name the community service award is given posthumously.
"I just want to say, 'God bless America,' " Tompkins added. "We're so fortunate in this country, to be able to celebrate the day as we do and realize the wonder of it all."
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Check back with Brandon Patch for more parade coverage.
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