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The morning of July 4, 2011 dawned somewhat overcast and folks were thinking, “Will it rain?” There is absolutely no way it would rain on the 50th Anniversary Glyndon Parade! As Vernene and I left for O’Meara’s field all looked good. Daryan, our son, had already been to the field with Nan Kaestner to set up the tables with the 51 years of photos. Santoni’s trucks had arrived just prior to us and were starting to set up to feed, what I knew, would be a huge crowd.
As 9:30 passed and it was getting closer to 10, everything was coming together. The convertibles arrived to carry our Past Presidents, the Glyndon Volunteer Fire Department apparatus arrived followed by a beautiful red, white, and blue patriotic ‘trike” motorcycle. Next arrived a phenomenal 1930′s Rolls Royce and 2 other 1930′s antique cars. Then the most important part of the parade arrived in droves by the hundreds, our marchers! There were over 100 folks decked out in the commemorative Anniversary Tee Shirt, “a sea of red”! There were young and old, carriages, bikes, scooters, and more all decked out for the “only parade of its kind – one where everyone is in the parade” – the 51st Glyndon Independence Day Parade.
Our Grand Marshalls, Mary and Jim O’Meara were brought to the field by their children. Four of the “first marchers” of July 4, 1961 were with us. There was Theresa O’Meara Prevosto, Kevin O’Meara, Bucky Edgett, and Pete Edgett. Theresa and Pete carried the American Flag along with Bucky to lead our Parade.
Lee Wroe arrived driving the 4 wheeler pulling the wagon with the music. I know that the Wroe family works long and hard to insure that the music works for our parade each year!
At approximately 10 AM, the Parade stepped off to follow the route it has taken for 51 years. Our Baltimore County Police were already in place to block traffic for the safety of our neighbors. It seemed that everyone in town and from near and far were either in the Parade or spectating. It is amazing to know that this Parade has continued and only gotten bigger with each passing year. We followed our route and pulled into O’Meara Field for our short ceremony.
Our Grand Marshall’s were introduced and received a sustained, well-deserved applause from those gathered for their continued support of Glyndon and the Parade. The firemen climbed on their truck with the American Flag. We joined in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a robust singing of the Star Spangled Banner. This is truly America! The newly arrived “Pastor Jeannie” Marsh of the Glyndon United Methodist Church closed our program with a heartfelt Benediction.
All were invited back for the 52nd Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2012. Then it was food and fellowship for all!
This tremendous Parade is truly a community affair. I need to thank a long list of folks for their generosity and support:
I am sure there are others that I have not mentioned, thank you. Finally, thank you to all of our participants, you make the 4th glorious in Glyndon!
It was a tremendously glorious July 4th in Glyndon! We will see you around the neighborhood, and particularly on July 4, 2012 for our 52nd Parade!
Glyndon’s celebrating July 4 and its 50th anniversary Independence Day parade with a commemorative red, white and blue t-shirt.
The Glyndon Community Association received more than 70 pre-orders for the shirts designed by our neighbor Richard Stanley. The GCA parade committee will accept orders through June 20, 2011; the cost is $15 per t-shirt.
Download the order form; make checks payable to Glyndon Community Association.
Orders received after June 20 will be returned.
Not sure what to wear to this year’s 50th Anniversary 4th of July Parade?
This year, let’s fill the street with the commemorative 4th of July T-shirt designed by own Richard Stanley. Price of the tees is $15 but, if you pre-order by May 31, the cost is $12.50. This red-white-and-blue tee has a small pocket logo on the front and a design on the back featuring the first parade in 1961.
Download a pre-order form (Word) and a design preview (PDF). Please make checks payable to GCA.
Let’s make the 50th Anniversary as memorable as the first!
“There’s a moment for each of us in childhood, when we first sat along the curb and waved a little flag and saw our first parade. Enhanced by the bracing sounds of snare drums, awed by marching bands and someone named John Phillips Sousa, for the first time we became aware that we were part of something bigger than us and our little world—something called community, and that we were at the birthday party of that community called our Country, and it was an important thing. So we waved our little flag, and we clapped, and we ooooo’d at the fireworks and we were happy.”“When we grew up a little, we learned that community meant more. It was school, driver’s license, Scout troops, movie theaters, the moon over our back yard, and high school games. It was not the next county over’s place; it was our place. Ours.”
“It is a geographical place, but it is more. Something that is ours comes with deep roots of feelings, memories, and beliefs. We will work for the things we enjoy. We love our children and our community…and we will break our backs for them, put ourselves in danger for them, with barely a second thought. July 4th is the day we celebrate the core stuff of achieving and protecting something special that is ours from sea to shining sea; it is the birthday of American patriotism, the day we celebrate the love we have for our country.”
Paraphrased from The Zone Magazine, July 2010.
Dear Glyndon Neighbors,
I know the above was long, but I believe it sums up what the 50th Glyndon Independence Day Parade was all about. It was a glorious day to spend with our friends and neighbors. Special meaning was added to our 50th with the return of our ”First Marchers”, Theresa O’Meara Prevosto, Kevin O’Meara, Bucky Edgett and Pete Edgett. Reminiscing ran rampant all day!
Thank-you to the Glyndon Volunteer Fire Department, Santoni’s Markets, Village Sound, and Battery Warehousefor their support. Thank you to GCA’s Past President’s, the flag bearers: Judy Wroe, Charlie Wells, Vernene Lenz, John Morris, Nevitt Steele, Mark Laken, and Lee Wroe. Special thanks to Nan Kaestner and her team, Katherine Giancola, Eleanor Taylor, Marti Clements, and Meredith Wells.
July 4, 2011 will mark the 50th Anniversary of our Parade. We will attempt to get as many of the “First Marchers” to return as possible. Mark your calendars now for this phenomenal upcoming event!
Gary W. Lenz
President
Glyndon Community Association, Inc.
“We are all volunteers. We can agree to disagree. In the end, we are all neighbors who should exercise care and consideration.”