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Home My WebLink About1968-02-29-TCC-min.pdf 347 TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE February 29, 1968 PRESENT Vice Chmn Gaughan, Mrs Litchfield, Mrs Severance, Mr Lord, Mr Sperduto, Mr Lewis, and Mrs Hall VISITORS Ellison Beckwith - Lexington Historical Society Hazel LaPorte - Girl Scouts Col Zeoli - Chief of Staff - 1968 Patriots Day Parade PATRIOTS DAY Mr Beckwith met with the committee to request that the Lexington Historical Society's Antique Fire Engine be allowed to lead the 4th Division in the afternoon parade He also mentioned that the Historical Society may be passing out membership blanks from the engine along the parade route He suggested that a limited number of antique cars be allowed in this year's parade and he volunteered to be on a committee to control the number of cars - if such a committee should be formed Mr Gaughan told Mr Beckwith the committee would call him about the first of April concerning this committee, as Mr Beckwith feels three weeks is plenty of time to ready any cars Mr Gaughan will also give to Mr Beckwith for the Historical Society the old flags used by the original Lexington School Color Guard Mrs LaPorte asked if the Needham Girl Scout Drum 8 Bugle Corps could march in the afternoon parade, and if possible, could the Needham group march next to the Lexington Girl Scout float Mrs Litchfield will invite the Needham girls, in writing, this week The committee went over the check list, and prior to this, Mrs Severence asked that the new check lists be available for the next TCC meeting GENERAL INFORMATION MR Gillespie, High School Band Director, asked to perform near the middle of the afternoon on Sunday, April 21st on the Green for the Patriotic Song Fest Mr Sperduto announced that the final float meeting will be held on Thursday, March 14, 8PM, in the Selectmen's Office Col Zeoli announced that Chief Marshal Wyman has appointed all parade division heads The Fiske Hill ceremony will take place on Sunday afternoon, April 14th at the Fiske Hill site Mr Lewis will check with Mr Broderick regarding the flag to be exchanged with the Concord representatives Mrs Litchfield will write to Mary Farris saying the TCC wants very much to have the NORAD Band perform in Lexington on the night of April 19th, ten- tatively in Cary Hall , at 8PM, and she (Mrs Litchfield) will reserve Cary Hall for this purpose The North America Radar Air Defense Band has 86 pieces and is reputed to be an excellent group Mr Lord and Mr Lewis are a committee pro tem to let the Town know of this event with lots of publicity to assure a full house Mrs Severance will work with them on this publicity 348 Mrs Hall will check with Mr Sweeny of the Lexington Engineering Department about the Lexington maps he's doing for the committee, and order approximately 500 if possible Mrs Hall will make up an acceptance fist of parade bands and units after next week's meeting Recent Acceptances Northeastern University ROTC Band; Boston University ROTC Band, Pershing Rifles, Scabbard & Blade and Majorettes They have asked this committee if their queen could ride within their unit, escorted by the Scabbard & Blade Sabre Team This was approved Maynard, Woburn, Fitchburg, Reading Memorial , Lexington High School Bands Clan McPherson Bagpipe Band Grotto Oriental Band Medfield Drill Team Holy Name Band, Roxbury Salem Rockettes Drum and Bugle Corps; Needham Girl Stout Drum & Bugle Corps Precisionettes from University of Massachusetts, Marching Unit Flying Redmen from University of Massachusetts, Drill team Guest Acceptances Capt and Mrs Mitchell , Coast Guard (First Coast Guard District) for Adm Childress, Commander General and Mrs McGonagle (Brig Gen Ret ) (Brig Gen William F ) Capt Vultaggio, Dir of Information, ESD; Rear Adm and Mrs Roy S Benson, First Naval District, Boston Lt Tim Vail ! , Aide to Adm Benson The Honorable Ron C McKenzie, Senator, 7th Senatorial District of Massachusetts Colonel and Mrs Robert F Long, Commander, Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories Guest Regrets The Honorable Edward W Brooke, U S Senator from Massachusetts The Honorable John A Volpe, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Col Henry Dittman, Commander, 3245th Air Base Wing, Hanscom Field, Bedford Holiday Change Law The committee wishes to go on record as being opposed to the State's inter- fering in the changing of the Patriots Day date for weekend conveniences We feel this is a local and historical holiday and should be celebrated on its true date We shall ask the Selectmen of Lexington to write to the Attorney General of Massachusetts and challenge the legality of this changing of date for celebration Unless Patriots Day is celebrated on April 19th, there will be no patriotic significance of the day This matter will again be brought up at the next meeting (March 7th) for a full committee vote Respectfully submitted, Marilyn L Hall Recording Secretary