Sound View parade a neighborly celebration
Old Lyme — Jen Rozanski, an EMT riding in an ambulance at the end of the Sound View Beach Association’s 23rd Annual Independence Day Parade, had a theory Saturday about what she believed to be the smaller-than-usual crowd.
“Everyone’s in the parade,” she said.
When it was over, Gail Fuller, the association president, made a similar observation.
“There were more people in the parade than there were watching it,” she said.
Indeed, entire families — moms, dads, kids and dogs — took part in the low-key event, ambling as much as marching along a route that included Hartford, Swan and Portland avenues.
It couldn’t have taken more than 40 minutes or so for the modest procession of golf carts, SUVs, bicycles, firetrucks and ambulances to pass.
“It’s a short parade, but it’s fun, a lot less formal than other parades,” said Rozanski’s husband, Tom, who surrendered his seat in the ambulance to a reporter. “Everybody’s having a good time.”
Tisha Kirk, the ambulance driver, searched the faces of spectators for kids she and Jen Rozanski recognized from the Old Lyme elementary school where they work day jobs.
She sounded the ambulance's horn on request.
“It’s nice, they really seem to appreciate us,” Tom Rozanski said of the reception from onlookers.
“It’s a hometown parade, a neighborhood thing, although everybody’s welcome,” said Frank Pappalardo, chairman of the town’s Sound View Commission.
Microphone in hand, Pappalardo launched the parade and afterward announced the winners of awards for best-decorated bike and float (golf cart) and most patriotic outfit.
He said he’s been announcing for the University of Connecticut Marching Band since he was a UConn student more than 40 years ago.
“Wherever they go, I go,” he said.
A whole other band, the Gales Ferry-based Silver Cornet Band, led the parade, starting with the “Marine’s Hymn” and following that up with the likes of “Anchors Aweigh” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
“We do concerts, parades, ceremonies all over southeastern Connecticut,” said Frank May, a band member from Griswold. “We’ve been coming to Sound View for many, many years."
"This parade has a neighborhood feel to it that's wonderful," he said. "Everybody's so friendly."
Fuller, who’s been in Sound View for 18 years, recalled that long before the parade featured a band, a “boom box” supplied the music.
Sound View marches on.
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