Kara Wolters to serve as grand marshal for Groton's 40th annual 4th of July Parade
Groton — This Thursday, Groton will celebrate its 40th annual Groton 4th of July Parade, a tradition that draws thousands to the downtown area.
Kara Wolters, an Olympic gold medalist, NCAA champion with the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team and a WNBA champion, is this year's grand marshal for the parade, which will start at 10 a.m. and run through the heart of downtown.
Jerry Lokken, recreation services manager for Groton Parks and Recreation, said his department offers the parade so community members can get together, celebrate and recognize Groton as a military community, home to the Naval Submarine Base. People appreciate the opportunity to recognize and applaud service members as they walk by and thank them for their service, he said.
He said it's a chance for people to come together for a common purpose and contribute to the quality of life in town.
For the 40th annual parade, the town is sticking with its tried-and-true format. The parade will start at Poquonnock Plains Park and go down Route 1 to the Groton Shopping Plaza, Lokken said. People can view the parade anywhere along Route 1.
Wolters, who has spent summers in Waterford since she was a child and is a television sports analyst for SNY, said she was impressed by the parade's history and noted that it's an honor to participate in anything that involves those who served our country.
"They are the real heroes, so to be part of that is an honor," she said.
Lokken said at least a thousand people participate in the parade, including representatives from the Naval Submarine Base, the Coast Guard Academy, veterans groups, businesses, churches, community and service organizations, youth sports groups, marching bands, fire departments, Miss Connecticut and Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen.
This year's theme for the parade is "Groton — America's Hometown."
"We’re trying to enhance the quality of life in Groton, and we think that Groton is a place people should be proud to call their home, and this is a place where everybody in the community is welcome," Lokken said. "Groton is an American hometown, and there's something for everybody here."
More information on the parade is available at: http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/parksrec/events/july4th/default.asp
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