HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-23-TCC-min
Minutes
Town Celebrations Committee
January 23, 2013
Training Room, Room 201, Hadley Public Services Building
Members Present
Suzie Barry, Dick Crogan, Linda Dixon, Jo-Anne Granger, Julie Miller, Wayne Miller, Bill Mix, Henry
Murphy, Sandy Podgorski, Charlie Price and Bob Tracey
Members Not Present
Mary Gillespie, Paul Jenkins, Sondra Lucente and Dave Taylor
Business
Suzie Barry convened the meeting at 7:05 pm.
Minutes of January 9, 2013 were approved with one change.
The committee meeting schedule through May 2013 was distributed. All meetings will
be held in the Training Room, Room 201, Hadley Public Services Building at 7 pm with
the exception of an additional meeting scheduled for Friday, April 12, 2013 at 3 pm.
Jim Shaw resigned from the committee and Julie Miller will move up from the
subcommittee to fill the opening. New member, Barbara Manfredi, joins us on the
subcommittee. Final approval for the two changes is on the Selectmen’s agenda.
Patriots’ Day 2013 Parade
Volunteers. Committee will need a lot of help this day, so if members know of folks
who are available, please tell Suzie. Suzie has names of some who have already
volunteered.
Applications. Groups who have not yet returned applications have been contacted and
reminded to do so. Application updates:
A motion was made to accept ten groups at no cost. The motion passed and
o
was accepted.
A motion was made to accept three groups for a fee: Reminisants, Fire
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Department Honor Guard and Stuart Highlanders. The motion passed and was
accepted. (Stuart Highlanders would like different placement in the parade. The
request will be discussed.)
Aleppo Shiners’ application was not accepted.
o
Ferko String Mummers’ fee is flexible. Suzie is waiting to hear from them.
o
Suzie is negotiating Woodland String Band’s fee with them.
o
If funds are available, three other colonial groups are being considered for
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inclusion in the parade.
Suzie would like to have more marching military bands in the parade and has
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five possibilities to explore.
Hallamore’s fee this year is more than the budget can afford. Sondra Lucente
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will be asked to make a counteroffer.
Chief Marshal. In keeping with the “We Are Lexington” theme, Jo-Anne Granger
th
reported from her meeting with the 300 Committee that a suggestion was made to
invite a representative from each of the different categories typifying Lexington, i.e.
education, culture, farms, founding families, etc. Sam Doran provided a list of founding
families’ names whose descendants could be invited to participate. If the committee
decides to invite a descendant(s) of a founding family or families to fill this role, then
the question was raised how this group will go down the avenue, on foot or by
conveyance?
Sponsorship. The sponsorship letter is written; Suzie is waiting for the contact list.
Members discussed the existing budget, listed expenses yet to be covered (printing
costs, new banners, portable toilets, etc.) and tried to glean how much additional
support would result from fund-raising efforts. Linda Dixon suggested whether or not
the committee should consider asking certain individuals and possibly the Lexington
community to contribute.
Vehicles. Paul Jenkins was not present. Vehicle discussion will be carried over to
another meeting.
Paul Revere’s Ride. Suzie is waiting to hear from Mayor Menino’s office regarding Paul
Revere’s ride through Lexington. She would like to assure that his arrival does not
interfere with the Old Guard’s performance at the green.
Transportation. C & W will provide buses at last year’s prices.
Marching Units. Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Norwich University and US Air
Force Band of Liberty will not be part of this year’s parade. (The Band of Liberty will be
a permanent loss since the unit was disbanded.)
Awards. The following award winners will be announced on April 10, 2013 at Town
Meeting: White Tricon Hat, Youth Commission and Minuteman Cane. We expect that
the award winners will participate in the parade.
Memorial Day 2013 Update
Suzie recapped Sam Doran and Ryan Lennon’s finding of five unmarked graves of Civil
War veterans in Munroe Cemetery, reporting that application has been made to the
Veterans Administration for placement of a gravestone at each site.
Suzie found that the walk-through of the changes to this year’s parade route through
the cemetery and additional activity there was very helpful. The five recently-identified
gravesites will have a wreath placed and individual volley sounded. The changes
lengthen the program by approximately 15-20 minutes.
Chief Marshal. A suggestion was made to give this honor to a descendant of one of the
five families of the recently-identified Civil War veterans.
Speaker. Two possibilities are to either invite (1) a representative from the Veterans
Administration to speak on the topic of the process involved for recognizing each of the
men for his service, finding descendants, etc. or (2) Sam Doran, member of the Lt. Col.
John W. Hudson Club of Lexington
(an organization of “male descendants of Union soldiers
and sailors who served honorably in the Civil War 1861-1865”).
Clergy. Fr. Arnold Colletti, Pastor, St. Brigid and Sacred Heart parishes, will be the
representing clergy.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm
Respectfully submitted by Sandy Podgorski