Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

edink-Labor-Day-Parade

Full Text:

ED INK: The Parade: A Picture Of Newtown

The identity of many towns seems to be prescribed by buildings and landscape;

the overall impression, either good or bad, has to do with how the two are

configured. Think of Litchfield. Think of Trumbull. Each makes its own

impression. Overall, Newtown does pretty well if the measure of a town is its

appearance. Our opens spaces, our hilltop vistas, our Main Street, and our big

old flag leave a good impression on most people passing through town.

But once you live in a place for a while, once the scenery becomes familiar,

it becomes clear that appearance isn't the best measure of a town. The true

identity of a town can only be seen in its people. In most places, it takes a

period of residency and social circulation for that identity to reveal itself.

But for people wanting to get to know Newtown, there is a quick and easy means

of introduction, and it takes place every year on Labor Day.

It's been said that half the town marches in Newtown's Annual Labor Day Parade

while the other half watches, and some years it certainly seems that way.

Scores of marching units wend their way along the mile-and-a-quarter route

from Currituck Road down Main Street, along Glover Avenue to the Queen Street

reviewing stand. It's not uncommon to see people who march in the front of the

parade joining the crowd on Main Street to watch the end of the parade. For

newcomers, the parade is a great snapshot of their new hometown. For veteran

parade watchers, it is a way to keep tabs on the town. The parade changes each

year, just as the town does, but always there is the drumbeat of tradition,

from the Newtown High School Band, which always heads up the parade, right

through to the very last marching unit, which this year is the Grace Christian

Fellowship Church.

To those watching, it seems like the Newtown Labor Day Parade continues year

after year by sheer momentum. How could anything so huge and so exuberant ever

be stopped? But the truth is that it takes tremendous efforts by a handful of

individuals to get the parade going each year. Newtown Labor Day Parade

co-chairmen Kym Stendahl and Lisa Franze and their committee members deserve

an extra hearty cheer when they pass by this year. Watch for them in the very

first "Escort" Division, just behind Parade Marshal Dave Lydem, and be sure to

say thanks.