Sunday, March 10, 2013

March 9, 2013 - Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade

The groundhog’s prediction for an early spring came true in time for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year.

Utica follows Syracuse in selecting the date and March 9th was chosen and luckily the weather co-operated with this early date. It was sunny, dry, mild, and calm.

The Red Band had 22 marchers plus 1 Leprechaun that was decorating Paul Browne’s Sousaphone.

We were placed in the aptly named “Red Division” which was located towards the beginning of the parade.

The sidewalks along the line of march were packed right from our start at Oneida Square and they grew as we continued down Genesee St. They were 7 deep at the Stanley Theater where we marched along the Green line painted on the street in front of the reviewing stand.

The crowd was even larger on the sunny side of the street in front of the Radisson Hotel.

Everyone was wearing a touch of the green - most noticeable were the hats and headbands sporting glittering shamrocks bouncing on springs keeping time as we played MacNamara’s Band and When the Saints go Marching In.

The parade was extended an extra block in length this year ending at the Hotel Utica. Also there was a camera man located high above the reviewing stand in a cherry picker bucket (he had the best view) – and there was a giant Irish flag hanging over the road near the end of the parade route – a most welcome and festive sight.

"VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA"


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November 11, 2013 Veteran's Day Parade Whitesboro NY

How is this for co-incidence? According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac – for more than 200 years the Almanac has adhered to the saying “If All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) brings out winter, St. Martin’s brings out Indian Summer”.

St. Martin’s (who just happens to be a soldier) Feast Day is November 11. Since 1918 November 11 was known as “Armistice Day” to commemorate the end of World War I. In England, France, and Canada it is still known as “Remembrance Day”. In 1954 the United States changed it once more – this time to Veteran’s Day. But it still seems as though our soldier Saint Martin still looks after the weather.

It was gorgeous in Whitesboro for the parade – sunny and 73°. The Red Band stepped off at 12:15pm right behind our local Marine Corp. /US Navy ROTC Cadets.

We honor all those who have served in the Armed Forces by playing each of the Service Songs as well as God Bless America.

We ended the parade at the Memorial on the grounds of the Whitesboro American Legion where there was a short ceremony.

A commemorative brick had been placed in the walkway, a wreath was placed in front of the Memorial stone, and a 21 gun salute shattered the air followed by the solemn playing of “Taps”. Beautifully played by our own Al Galime, “Taps” became a Prayer in just 24 notes.

As the Red Band season wraps up for 2012 –later that evening the music continued to celebrate the Veterans’. A special Veteran’s Day concert was performed at Utica College in which 13 members of the Red Band played once more.



 
"VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA"

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