East Lansdowne stays the course with 105th July 4th celebration
EAST LANSDOWNE » As communities around Delaware County cancelled their July 4th festivities out of concern for the COVID-19 pandemic, East Lansdowne council hesitated. Members didn’t want to cancel their traditional July 4th celebration, but they also didn’t want to endanger anyone.
Mayor John Dukes and council Vice President Majovie “Joe” Bland, however, were determined to have a parade.
“Joe and I convinced each other if it was going to just be him and I walking around the streets, that would be our parade,” said Dukes as he recalled events leading up to Saturday’s celebration. “We sat there; we were up and down and as things started to get better, from ‘red’ to ‘yellow’ then ‘green,’ we definitely knew we were going to do something.”
“I am so proud to be here with you this morning. We are the true melting pot of America. This is a special year for us and we all know why,” said Bland. “We thought it was important for us to have this parade this year. We are a small town and this is our only true tradition, our 4th of July parade. It’s our 105th and that is a big deal for us. I’m glad to see folks wearing their masks.”
“So we’re here today to celebrate the Fourth of July,” said Dukes. “In times of trouble, we come together. We work together, we figure out our problems, straighten them out, and move on. And that’s what we’re here for and that what this parade means today.”
Reidents of the community agreed. Many watched from the safe distance of
their yards as the parade wound through town.
“I’m so glad they are having this parade,” said East Lansdowne resident Mary Ann Dalessandro.
“I’m so proud we’re one of the only ones in Delco.”
Her friend Ethel Bigioni agreed, “I’ve been here 55 years. I wouldn’t miss it.”
The day began with the raising of the flag and singing of the National Anthem as about 100 people looked on. A number of speakers took part including U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon,
D-5 of Swarthmore. “America is an idea. It’s an idea about ‘We the People’ being in charge, ‘We the People’ pulling together. It’s a beautiful idea,” said Scanlon. “The Founding Fathers got a lot right. They missed a few things; they didn’t have any founding mothers, they didn’t include Black and Native Americans and they didn’t include people who didn’t own land. So we are a work in progress. Right now, we’re kind of at an inflection point. We’ve celebrated the 4th of July in years there were pandemics, in years there were wars and in years there was civil unrest. This may be the first time we had all of it together.”
The parade began at
12:30 p.m. and featured Mr. Fig ‘n the Rustics Mummers Band and The Keni Jackson Experience Soul Band. A number of antique cars, decorated bikes, and fire trucks filled out the line-up.
Gracie
Carr,
1,
and 4-year-old sisiter Brady traveled all the way from West Chester to take part in the parade.
“I’m glad they are still having it,” said their father. “I remember it well when I was a kid.”
“I am so proud to be here with you this morning. We are the true melting pot of America.”
— Council Vice President Majovie “Joe” Bland