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Home My WebLink About1961-03-16-TCC-min.pdf 371 TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE March 16, 1961 The twelfth meeting of the 1960-'61 Town Celebra- tions Committee was held in the Selectmen's Room of the Town Office Building at 8 :00 p.m. Present were Mrs. Fox, Mrs Williams, Mrs Litchfield, and Messrs Cobb, Cronin, Howard, Gilman, Douglass and Bongiorno Also present were Mr Edmund Cady and Mr Norman Woodward representing the Lexington Minute Men; Marr Lindsay, Chairman of the L H.S. Photo Contest ant Dr Howard A. Smith of the Minuteman Freedom Committee L.H.S. Photo Contest : Mark Lindsay reported that the APRIL 19 contest has been named "Photo 19 " Three committees have been organized: 1 Prize 2 Publicity and 3 Collection There will be 3 cle�.7es of pictures; black and white, color slides, and color prints. Three age groups may enter; grades 1-6, grades 7-12, adults in Lexington. Photographs may be of events in preparation for or on the day of April 19. Spirit of '76 Group: Mr Gilman reported that another drummer is still needed. Mrs Fot has received from Mr Tuller information as to availability of wigs. Mrs. Fox will take a picture for the newspaper of cos- tume making at the High School MR. CRONIN WENT TO A PRECINCT MEETING AND MR. HOWARD PRESIDED OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING. Correspondence (Mrs Litchfield) 1 Lexington School Superintendent, Medill Bair, had sent a letter permitting distribution of Patriots' Day programs through the schools. 2 The Lexington Policewomen's Association had sent a letter accepting invitation to participate in the parade. 3. General Harmoh had sent a letter explaining that he would participate in some events in Lexington if plans for him permit his leaving Concord in time 4 The First Naval District Band "has other Commit- ments" so will not participate in Lexinrrton's parade this year However, a Naval Marching Unit and Color Guard will be provided. 372 5 General Verbeck sent letter regretfully declining invitation to Lexington this year. However, he will be represented by his staff Judge Advocate, Col William L Whalen and Mrs Whalen. 6. Major General Clyde H. Mitchell (U.S A.F Commander of the Electronic Systems Center of Lawrence G Hans- com Field) and Mrs. Mitchell sent letter that they must decline the invitation to Lexington on Patriots' Day The Concord Committee reported that "Prescott" rides at midnight on April 18 and, therefore, does not accompany "Revere and Dawes" on the 19th 8 Beth Berglund wrote a letter stating that the Rain- bow girls will participate. 9. John F. Kelly, Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Mayor of Boston requests information about Lex- ington' s Patriots' Day program immediately for inclusion in Boston's Patriots' Day program. 10 Boston University R.O.T.C. (Capt Frye) reports that it will supply a drill team and 40-piece band. for Lexington's parade (B.0 requests some financial help with transportation ) 11 Mrs Fox will inquire of Mr Taylor, Minister of the First Parish Church, whether or not he will give the Invocation at the morning ceremony. Minuteman Freedom Committee : Dr 'Inward A. Smith of the Committee gave a report of plans, thus far, for bringing United Nations delegates from 19 new African nations to Lexington as special guests for the Patriots ' Day celebration He mentioned that the U.S State Department has approved of the program. Most of the delegates are expected to be pro-American Eight to ten delegates plus wives or assistants and liaison persons from the U.N are expected to attend The group will be flown to Boston on April 18 They will be entertained in private homes and will attend balls in Lexington and Concord A dinner will be given at the L H.S Cafeteria on April 19 It is hoped that about 500 people will attend the dinner at $10 per person If there is a profit from the dinner, the money will be used for a scholarship for an African student or in some similar way (Mr Gilman suggested that the American Field Service Exchange Student Com- mittee be consulted so that, perhaps, an African stu- dent might be sponsored ) 373 The Freedom Committee hopes that the reviewing stand may be enlarged to accommodate the African U N. delegates Mr Cobb mentioned that Lexington Guides (High School students) who speak French might be available to give a short historical speech to the visitors. Mr Douglass brought up the question of whether or not the Celebrations Committee members will attend the dinner on April 19. Lexington Minute Men: 1 The Minute Men will be pleased to have the Matta- tuck Band in their division. 2 Mr Cady, Marshal of the Third Division, will have as his aide, Donald Hiscock. 3 VOTED: That the Minute Men will be given $100. for hosting expenses based upon S75. plus $25. for extra hosting obligations Bands. Drill Teams and Marching Units : The following have accepted invitations to participate in the 1961 parade: Military: 1. Norwich University 2. Ft Devens 3 B.U. 4. Tufts 5 Northeastern High School: 1 Maynard 2 Athol 3 Reading 4. Woburn 5. Lexington 6 Gloucester Other Bands: 1. Mattatuck 2 Clan MacPherson 3. Grotto Oriental 4 Boston Fire Dept Drum and Bugle Corps: 1 Dedham 2 St Patricks "'arching Units: 1. Bedford. Air Force Civil Air Patrol (45-50 cadets ) 2 First Coast Guard 3 Tufts University Naval R.O.T C. 4 Tufts University Air Force R.0 T C. 5 Northeastern University 6. Boston University Drill Team 7 First Naval District will send marching unit in lieu of band Floats: It is expected that 9 floats, at least, will be entered in the parade Parade Roster: 1 Information for the parade roster must be compiled next week so that it may be mailed to all participating units by April 1 374 Reviewing Stand: 1 Mr Cronin will be informed that the reviewing stand must be enlarged to accommodate the visiting African U.N. delegates 2. Mr Cobb suggested that tickets be used for ad- mission to the reviewing stand and that ropes be placed across steps with sign "Admission by ticket only " 3 Television and Press personnel and equipment must be controlled 4 Chairs (Preferable the ones which lock into slots) with names on them and a blocked plan for seating ar- rangement were suggested 5. VOTED Chairs for the reviewing stand should be hired from a chair company and should be placed on the stand and removed by the company 6 A policeman should be on duty at the reviewing stand 7 The U.N delegates should be seated in a group at one end of the reviewing stand 8. The following count was made of people who are 1 eligible to be on the reviewing stand: 15 (guests and wives) 18 (Celebrations Committee members and husbands and wives. ) 10 (Selectmen and wives ) 2 ("Lady Lexington" and escort) 1 (White Tricorne Hat recipient) 1 (Photographer) Miscellaneous : 1. The 1961 White Tricorne Hat recipient and the 2 previous ones should be invited to ride in the parade 2. Mrs Fox and Mr Bob Sherman of the Lexington Minute-Man newspaper will arrange to have the Patriots' Day Program inserted into the newspaper for the April 6 issue 3 The morning program will be sent to all partici- pants of the morning parade 375 4. Mr Howard suggested that Civil Defense communica- tions cars advise the reviewing stand of theline-up of the parade from a point such as Munroe Tavern so that the units may be accurately identified by loud speaker to the people at the Green when the units arrive there. 5 Questions of security for the African delegates were discussed. Georgia H. Williams, Recording Secretary 376 [ ,