1966-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Town Celebrations Committee The past year involved the four observances the committee normally coordinates and one special observance. In addition, this committee cooperated with the Lexington Sister City Committee to fit Sr. Jose Azanza Jiminez, the mayor of Dolores - Hidalgo, Mexico, and his party into our April 19th plans. Patriots Day - The morning parade is always the highlight of the day for many people and particularly for the elementary school children. It is Lexington's own part of the celebration and the committee feels strongly that it should remain so. As a result of this feeling, we continue to refuse offers from non - Lexington groups to provide marching or musical units for the morning parade. Although youth groups from other towns have occasionally marched in the morning parade, they have done so only on invitation from similar Lexington groups. In spite of the restrictions on participation, the parade seems to grow larger each year and slightly more unweildly. That is the main reason we as- sembled the elementary school children and the younger organized groups at the road into the Munroe Cemetery rather than at Munroe School. Customary exercises on the Battle Green followed the parade and were highlighted by the presentation of a town flag to Mayor Azanza by Mr. Lincoln Cole, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and by the awarding of the Lexington Lions Club White Tricon Hat award to Mr. Joseph Rooney for outstanding service to the town. Memorial services by the D.A.R. and the Lexington Minute Men, the Lions Club road races, and the arrivals of Revere and Dawes at Captain Parker's statue completed the pre- afternoon parade activities. Lt. Col. Ernest Graustein, USMCR, served as Chief Marshal of the afternoon pa- rade. Under his command, the first units left East Lexington at 2 :00 P.M. preceeded by a motorcade of the town's guests and the Spirit of '76. The parade continued up Massachusetts Avenue at the Battle Green rather than using Bedford Street as in the past. The gradual curve in Massachusetts Avenue at Harrington Road is much easier for floats and marching units to negotiate than is the left turn at Bedford Street and Harrington Road. In addition, the newer route provides better mobility for emergency use of police and fire apparatus. We plan to continue to use Massachusetts Avenue rather than Bedford Street. Float judging was again done in East Lexington before the parade rather than along Worthen Road after the parade. The campfire girls and the Lexington Rotary won the Chamber of Commerce trophies for the best floats in the youth and civic divisions, re- spectively. Memorial Day - The parade, under the command of Chief Marshal A.T. Ferry, Past Commandant of Stanley Hill Post No. 37, American Legion, stepped off from Munroe School at 10 :00 A.M. Previous to the parade, members of the town's veterans and mili- tary groups went to Westview Cemetery by bus for memorial services there. Additional brief memorial services were held at parade stops at Munroe Cemetery, Cary Hall, The Old Burying Ground, and at the monument on the Battle Green. John MacDonald, a senior student at Lexington High School recited Lincoln's Gettysburg address at Munroe Cemetery. The parade assembled near the Battle Green flag pole for the major exercises and an ad- dress by Mr. William Carmen, military aide to Governor Volpe. U.N. Day - The Lexington League of Women Voters again sponsored their essay contest for senior students at the high school and a poster contest for younger students. The Rotary Club and the Lexington Lodge of Elks awarded prizes to the winners of the essay and poster contests at the 7:00 A.M. flag raising ceremonies on the Battle Green. Laura Holland and David Bellanger won the Rotary prizes for their essays and Cindy Lou Chase and Cynthia Anthony won the Elks prizes for their posters. The Lexington Lions Club also presented a U.N. flag to the Bridge School at those ceremonies. 12