The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Fire company gears up for anniversary parade
UPPER MERION » Every year residents of the Swedesburg area of Upper Merion Township look forward to the local fire company’s parade through their community. This Saturday, Oct. 21, they’ll be looking forward to a parade that’s bigger and better than ever.
In observance of the fire company’s 75th anniversary, a succession of over 100 pieces of firefighting apparatus from Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties, along with marching units, ambulances and Dalmatians, will
march through the streets of Swedesburg village and King Manor.
“This milestone is a big deal for us,” said Jerry Recupido, Swedesburg FC chief and co-chairman of the event. In some ways, “we are mimicking the way we observed our 50th anniversary in 1992. But, on that occasion, all the activities were held in a one-month time. This time, we decided to celebrate throughout the year.”
The year-long 75th anniversary celebration began early in the year with a mass at Sacred Heart Church, followed three months later by a banquet for members, family, friends and local dignitaries at the Radisson Hotel in King of Prussia and, in June, a picnic at the Picnic Grove at Valley Forge Fire Co. in Chester County.
The parade will kick off at Noon at Horizon Drive in the Swedeland section and will proceed onto Church Road, then onto Flint Hill Road, Jefferson Street, Holstein Street, Coates Street, Fourth Street, back to Jefferson Street and to its conclusion at the firehouse near Holstein Street.
Immediately following the parade, a ceremony marking the housing of four pieces of fire fighting apparatus will be held. Housed will be a 2010 Sutphen Snozzle, a vehicle known as a squirt; 2015 Ford Expedition Command vehicle; a 2008 Freightliner fire police traffic unit, and a 1946 Ford Tanker.
After the housing ceremony, which will be attended by state and local dignitaries, trophies will be awarded to parade participants in 26 categories.
Refreshments will be available and, in addition, parade memorabilia, including mugs and T-shirts, will be sold at the rear of the firehouse.
“Compared with our annual Fourth of July parade, this event required a great deal more planning and preparation,” Recupido pointed out. “Decisions had to be made concerning the parade route, the fire companies and ambulance squads to invite, the ordering of Tshirts, mugs and trophies, the selection of master of ceremonies and caterer, the type of post-parade activities we wanted and, of course, we had to keep Upper Merion Township informed of our plans.”