HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-02-17-TCC-min.pdf TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
February 17, 1977
PRESENT Mr Brenchick(acting chairman) , Mrs Litchfield, Mrs Hazel, Mrs Mitchell,
Mr. Flynn, Mr Gaughan
George Gabriel (Lexington Minute Men) , David Bean (Chief Marshal)
CORRESPONDENCE. The Committee reviewed a list of responses received from various
marching units which had been invited to participate in the Patriots Day afternoon
parade. All were held for further Committee consideration. Mrs Litchfield also
reported that the First Brigade of the 26th Infantry, National Guard would pro-
vide a marching unit
MINUTEMEN Mr Gabriel represented the Lexington Minute Men in a discussion of
the invitations procedure for Colonial units which would be followed this year
It was agreed that a list of potential invitees would be forthcoming for the
February 24 meeting. The TCC and Mr. Gabriel also reviewed the planned schedule
for the day's events, as well as those areas of concern as to behavior of specific
Colonial units in the past. There was discussion of the "gap" problem, in
general, the rationale for mixing types of marching units in the various divisions
rather than having a single Colonial division, parade orders , number of units
which might be expected to come to Lexington now that the Bicentennial period is
concluded, etc Mr Brenchick will draft some special parade orders for Colonials
There also was discussion of arrangements for the Reenactment which need
to be completed. The numbers of pickets available and/or necessary to supplement
police officers on duty and the roping which will be placed around the area, as
usual, by the DPW There was general agreement that, not only would there pro-
bably be fewer colonial units needed, but the crowd size would likely be smaller
than previously Mr Gabriel commented that specific arrangements for the
"British" troops had not yet been concluded
GENERAL PARADE ARRANGEMENTS Chief Marshal Bean has reviewed the parade orders
and noted some changes he felt would make them more effective, he also commented
that there should be a good number of extra copies of both parade orders and
rosters available in the assembly area He plans to have an information table
there as an aid to both parade staff and marching units In response to a question
raised, both Mr. Bean and Mr Branchick commented that a pre-parade briefing
to be attended by a representative from each marching unit was probably not really
necessary, especially in light of the reduced parade size Parade staff briefing
is far more important, and Mr Bean plans to arrange this
MORNING PARADE Mrs. Litchfield and Mrs Mitchell will contact the youth groups
to ask them to send a delegate to the February 24 TCC meeting. There was discussion
regarding the ceremonies to follow the parade, no decisions were reached, however,
Mr Gaughan stated that, if the Sea Scouts wished to continue the long-standing
tradition of raising the flag, which may have been pre-empted by the Selectmen's
permission granted to the Lexington Minutemen regarding flagraising and the new
flagpole, he felt that the TCC should make every effort to allow them to do so
Mr Brenchick will contact Mr. Tropeano.
OTHER BUSINESS Budget and checklists were reviewed. It was agreed to ask Mr.
Michelson of the LBCorp and Chamber of Commerce to meet with the TCC on March 4
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth M Mitchell, Recording Secretary