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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-04-27-TCC-min.pdf 393 TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE April 27, 1961 The Seventeenth meeting of the 1960-'61 Town Celebrations Committee was held in the Selectmen's Room of the Town Office Building at 8:00 p m Mr Kingston !ioward, Vice-chairman, presided. Present were Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Litchfield, Mrs Williams, and Messrs. Howard, Bongiorno, Cobb, Gilman and Douglass. Also present was Dr Francis C. McDonald of the Con- cord Committee on Public Ceremonies and Celebrations. Concord Dr. McDonald gave a report on Concord ' s APRIL 19 celebration and outlined the following points for future consideration: 1. That the annual baseball game between Lexington and Concord takes youth away from both towns on April 19. Suggested that the ballgame be held on any Saturday, and more significance might be gained if the trophy could be presented on April 19 for games or meets held previously. Dr. McDonald suggested that if the Lexing- ton Celebrations Committee approves of this idea, that it should make the first move toward instigating the new arrangement. VOTED: That Donald Cobb will investigate the sentiment of key people toward the elimination of sport competi- tions involving Lexington teams with other towns as a part of the April 19 program. 2 That as time goes on, there might evolve a more historically accurate observance of April 19, with the reenactment of the rides of Paul Revere, Prescott and Dawes and other events scheduled at historically ac- curate times. 3 That all communities involved work together for a more unified celebration instead of competing with each other. 4. That in 1975 the communities might cooperate in publishing a memorial volume Dr McDonald will attempt to put down on paper these and other suggestions for consideration by the Lexington Celebrations Committee. Concord' s Celebration Committee meetings are held on the last Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. l_ 394 Lexington (Suggestions. Comments and Criticisms) : —, 1. Civil Defense Communications Cars should be re- quested each year. A car at the front of each division would be helpful to the marshal of the division. 2 The Boston University Pershing rifle team was com- mended 3 Bands did play in front of the Home for Aged Persons 4. The camping trailer float was not in keeping with the theme, "Let Freedom Ring " 5 The Judging of the floats was criticized (The Committee will request that the Chamber of Commerce draw up criteria, by points, for the judging of floats. ) 6. Some merchants withheld donation of prizes for the L.H S. Photography Contest because the Chamber of Com- merce failed to grant official permission for the soliciting of prizes from the merchants by the stu- dents (Additional prizes of money and gift certifi- cates were offered at this meeting S3 gift certifi- cate from Dorothy Muriel ' s; $3 gift certificate from Brigham' s: $5 gift certificate from Craft Cleansers; $5 from Mr Lincoln Cole, Jr ) 7 The costumes for the "Spirit of '76" group should be completed Permanent wigs should be purchased Next year, the "Spirit of '76" group should continue as far as St Brigids Church, at least , instead of stopping at Buckman Tevern as it did this year The fife sounded good The drums were not loud enough. (Suggested that Stephen Shaw be asked to drum next year and that Douglas Maxner be asked to be the grandfather drummer Also, the costumes should be assembled earlier next year to be sure that they are complete. ) 1 8. Guests going from the restaurant to the reviewing stand should be escorted or transported by automobile Wives of the Selectmen and wives of the Celebrations Committee members should be hostesses for the guests and should be assigned to the visiting wives 9 There should be name tags for the lady guests and all seating at the luncheon should be arranged in ad- vance This year, only the seating at the head table was prearranged Also, if the luncheon is held at the Battle Green Inn, Committee members should be near the stairway to receive the guests as they enter the din- ing room 10. A sign, "Admittance by Ticket Only" , should be used at the reviewing stand 39 11 Many people would like a community wide dinner dance or ball on April 19. The prospect of broaden- 1 I ing its dance should be discussed by the Committee with the Rotary Club If this is not feasible, another dance should be given (It was suggested that the Rotary Club might be interested in having its cocktail party and dinner for its members at the Carriage House and sponsoring a larger ball at Cary Hall ) 12 It is hoped that the tie with the Lexington His- torical Society will be strengthened 13 The projecting floor beams on the reviewing stand should be painted, in. the interest of safety 14 Umbrellas or a canopy for the reviewing stand should be rented for the comfort of the guests 15 The entertainment aspect of the celebration should be strengthened but kept in balance with the patriotic and educational aspect of the day (A drill team com- petition in the morning for marchers in the afternoon parade appeals to many for its entertainment value and, perhaps, should be tried next year Also, some enter- tainment, such as an airplane demonstration, might fill the gap between two and three o ' clock while the crowd ( I at the Green awaits the arrival of the parade Disney character balloons in the parade would be a hit with young children. ) 16 Too many fire engines There could be the same number of men in fewer vehicles. 17. In the future, the Committee should be on the alert to miscellaneous automobiles in the parade 18 Mr Gustin suggests that a bilingual tour might be worked into the schedule in connection with the visit of people from foreign countries to Lexington on April 19 Lady Lexington 1. Mrs Fox suggested that the photographic portrait be moved from the conference room of Cary Memorial Hall to a more prominent place such as the High School (The School Committee will be consulted about this matter ) 2 It was suggested that the whole "Lady Lexington" aspect of the Patriots' Day celebration be reviewed For that reason, no one on the Committee is authorized to make any commitments for "Lady Lexington" until the { fall when the new Celebrations Committee is organized 396 Correspondence and Billsrm 1 Bill from custodian of Munroe School --- $6 00 2 Letter of appreciation received from Lt Col W.A. Eadie, Watertown Arsenal. 3 A letter should be sent to the Chamber of Commerce with the request that it draw up criteria, by points, for the judging of floats Also, there should be a paragraph stating that the Celebrations Committee was surprised and disappointed in the Chamber of Commerce' s failure to approve the request of the L.H.S Photography Club to solicit Lexington merchants for prizes for the contest co-sponsored by the Celebrations Committee and the Photography Club 4 A letter of appreciation should be sent to the Rotary Club for the excellent treatment of the Celebra- tions Committee at its Patriots' Eve Dinner Dance THANKS- 1 The Community Service will be held on Nov 19, 1961. GIVING 2. The service should be planned early in the Fall and warmth and pageantry should be added 3 Letters should be sent to the Lexington Choral Society, the various churches, the library, the Arts and Crafts Society, the Historical. Society, the Field and Garden Club and the Art and History Departments of the schools, so that as many choirs and organiza- tions as possible may contribute talent and exhibits for this year' s Thanksgiving observance Georgia H Williams, Recording Secretary