A clear, warm autumn day brought thousands downtown to see what may have been the biggest Mum Parade yet.
By noon, an hour and a half before the parade kicked off on Race Street, “a sea of chairs” already lined the route, said Democratic mayoral contender Art Ward.
Long before the color guards, marching bands, twirlers and beauty queens began moving out, people were plunked down in the chairs, peering from balconies and finding comfortable positions to watch the popular parade.
The biggest cheers went to a small contingent of soldiers on a military Humvee as the community once again proved that whatever it thinks of the war, it loves the troops.
People along the route "would stand up and cheer," said Pat Nelligan, the reservist driving the Humvee, who just got back from a trip to Kuwait and the front lines.
Also getting some big applause was citywide visual arts instructor Lori Meusel Eschner, Bristol’s teacher of the year, who held a Mum-inspired pallette as she waved to the crowd.
Carlyle “Hap” Barnes, the grand marshal this year, said as he climbed out of a convertible at the end of the route, that he had a blast.
“It was wonderful,” Barnes said. “What an opportunity. It was the chance of a lifetime.”
Barnes, who used to drive an old fire truck in the parade, said he didn’t bring the truck this time around because he feared it wouldn’t make it until the end.
Eight-year-old Katie Saunders feared she wouldn’t make it to the end either.
With three quarters of the two and a half hour parade still to go, Saunders said, “This is really long. When will it be over?”
But more veteran parade watchers knew that the Mum Parade requires stamina, from watchers as well as marchers.
The Republican’s mayoral nominee appeared to have plenty of energy even as the parade neared an end.
Trailing a large group of young people with “Bristol First” t-shirts and signs, he jogged down the south side of Memorial Boulevard, slapping hands with parade watchers as he proclaimed, “Hello, my name’s Ken Johnson and I’m running for mayor.”
Ward, too, still had a spring in his step at the end of the route.
He said the parade organizers “deserve a heartfelt, grateful extension of thanks” for putting together a terrific event that even managed to start on time.
City Councilor Craig Minor said he thought turnout was as big as it’s been in a long time.
“Bristol is the kind of town that appreciates this kind of thing,” Minor said, because of its family orientation.
The parade featured all sorts of music, from the Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble to marching bands from a handful of schools, including the city’s two public high schools, Terryville High School and Lewis Mills High School.
Members of Newington’s Sphinx Shriners Motor Patrol did figure eights in tiny cars while wearing their distinctive head gear while other members of the group played in a band that helps raise money for the care of sick children.
Caroline Kucharski of Burlington watched from a folding chair under a tree on West Street.
“I always come,” she said. “This is so fun, especially all the kids.”
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
