SAUGERTIES PRIDE ON PARADE
Saugerties’ annual Fourth of July event features festivities, appreciation
Joy, pride and excitement were exuberantly demonstrated by the 60 units participating in Tuesday’s Independence Day parade and shared by the people who lined the route.
The event was marked by red, white and blue in a wide variety of dress from head gear to foot wear, but also by a recently developed pair of American flags that have black stripes except for a middle color that is either blue to honor police or red for firefighters.
Among the holiday traditions has been for some of the businesses to open their doors — even if no commercial transactions are expected to take place.
“We’re part of the neighborhood and we’re part of the community,” said Win Morrison Realty representative Alan Kessler. “These are all my friends, and having the door open is a way to bring the fun into our office. We have (a rack of) regional tourism guides that people come in an choose from, and it’s just a nice way to make acquaintance.”
Hudson Valley Dessert Company owner Constance Bailey said she felt a similar connection to the people lining the street in front of her Main Street shop. She was pleased point to the restrooms every time someone brought their balloon-carrying small child inside in something of a near-panic.
“It’s a great location to watch
the parade, and I think businesses that are open do a service to the community,” she said. “We also try to be community-minded in other ways. My husband is out there doing voter registration, taking advantage of a great opportunity
while there are thousands of people here and it’s a patriotic holiday.”
Saugerties Methodist Church also kept its longstanding tradition of providing hot dogs. Member Joan Robinson estimated that about 110 hot dogs would be distributed before parade, which ran about two hours, ended. The church also provided a little something extra so
that it felt like summer.
“It comes with Texas hot sauce, and it is our own recipe,” she said.
The only thing in short supply along the two-mile route was unoccupied shade, with the temperature measuring about 10 degrees lower for people out of direct sunlight. However, every once in a while there were cool thoughts that arose when viewing
the dozens of vehicles that drove past. For example, nothing says summertime better than the Zamboni used to put a fresh layer of ice on the Kiwanis ice rink.
While the children’s mad dashes to retrieve thrown candy provided the accent to the parade, there was still a strong sense that the event is about appreciation for the people who come to the defense of the nation at
all levels.
“There is something that we really appreciate about the people who provided the service to our country and the ones that provide the service to community,” said Joyce Lafleur, a visitor from Alabama. “I am pretty sure wearing the dark blue and black uniforms for a march in the summer is sign of strong dedication.”