By Deb Morrison
The Middletown Area Memorial Day Association proceeded with its plans to hold the 4th of July Parade on Thursday July 4, 2013. The threat of rain loomed in the early morning hours, but as they say “the show must go on”.
It started to sprinkle rain a little after the 9:00 am lineup began. At the corner of Lafayette St and Verity Parkway the Middletown Pacemakers Car Club started to line up before you knew it there were twenty classic cars rolling into line. By 10:00 the rain had picked up, and by the end of the parade the rain came down in buckets or at least it seemed that way.
Joe Snider chairman of the Middletown Area Memorial Day Association said he thought this was one of the largest parades he has been part of since he started volunteering in 2006. He became chairman of the Association in 2012 when then chairman Kenneth Wills passed away.
The American Legion Post 218, and the VFW Post 3809 took home awards for float decorations and depiction of theme which this year was “Foundation of Freedom—America’s Volunteers”. Also taking awards were Grace Baptist Church who had seven vehicles, Salvation Army Day Campers, Knights of Columbus, Middletown Alumni Band, Jefferson Lodge Masons, Kensington Place Care Center, Kiwanis Club, Access Counseling, Zion Lutheran Church, Spring Hill Christian Church, Land of Illusion, Broadway Bound Dance Co., and the Butler County Sheriff Mounted Patrol Units.
The Rain did not dampen our spirit, says Jeff Diver who took on the roll of Chairman of the Judges. Cam Petrocy Hammond and Helen Stevens Gleason also served as judges.
Those from the Middletown Memorial Day Association who were there and able to help get the parade moving out in a timely and organized manner were, Joe M Snider, Deb Morrison, Carmen Sexton, Chad Mills, Randy Howard, Michael Morrison and Middletown Police Liaison Andy Warrick. We thank everyone who came out to show their “AMERICAN PRIDE”, and we will see you next year.
