I Love A Parade - Especially This Hometown Event on Memorial Day

Who doesn't love a parade. The one held in my hometown of North Kingstown in the village of Wickford ranks up there as my favorite. Three school bands, hay wagons pulling the local theater group, the karate school with guys chopping wood blocks with their feet and hands, old cars and trucks, dogs, two horses, the hobby shop, a walking lighthouse hawking the new Plum Beach license plate, politicians, boy scouts, girl scouts, rainbow girls, police and fire departments and most important military veterans and vehicles...because this is really why the parade is held. Once the parade rounds the Main Street corner...the color guard assembles and the flag is presented, we sing The Star Spangled Banner, pray, Taps are played and a wreath is tossed over the bridge into the cove in honor of all our military lost at sea...soon that wreath floats out of the cove into Narragansett Bay and then it finds its way to the Atlantic Ocean. This sad tradition is poignant for so many reasons. Once this solemn ceremony is completed...time to strike up the high school band and the parade continues to the cemetery for another service there.


Wickford is a village full of small shops, restaurants, old homes a drug store and art galleries. Quaint is probably the best way to describe it. For us it was where we went to the library after school. The dentist, hardware store and dry cleaners were the main reason to go to "town".


The grand stand....modest but the center of attention...during the ceremony

Shops on the main street

More shops...

My brother in law, Mark was part of the parade...great photo....

My husband driving Mark in the backseat and my dad in the front passenger seat....convertible belongs to Dad...

This is where the wreath is thrown into the water in memory of all military lost at sea.

Military vehicles in the parade...

more...

We were told by a parade "official" that this year the parade had the most military vehicles ever.

My niece Natalie standing with a local police officer...she really wanted to meet him and this fellow was very pleasant and understanding...love this photo

My niece Sandie's dad and his wife were in the parade...they had the summer schedule for the NK Chorus painted on a board in the back of the truck for all to see

This lady is a local 'legend". She always drives around town in this car which has a "moo" horn. you can't miss her or the car. She runs a rescue for pot belly pigs...that fact leaves me with a lot more questions than answers...one of which is - How many pot belly pigs are being abandoned that a woman must devote herself to this cause?

Candy being tossed out for kids to gather...

Band music adds to the festivities

Some of the local police department

Rhode Island is issuing a new Plum Beach Lighthouse license plate...so the mascot was in the parade...

Town fire and rescue

The Wickford Yacht Club used a sailboat as a float...the club is where local kids learn to sail on Narragansett Bay...many a regatta is held by the yacht club as well...

Cub Scouts

Boy Scouts

The cast of Alice in Wonderland....a production to be held later this month...

Decorated Farmall tractor

One of two horses in the parade...

A look down the main street at the crowd....

All in all a wonderful parade on a somber day to say Thank you to all who have given of their lives to serve and protect our country and especially to remember and honor those who gave their lives so we remain free.

Elizabeth