1968 4th of July Program
The collection of July 4th programs donated by Dave and Linda Ramsay jumps from 1963 to 1968. The 1968 program includes a significant change from 1963 --- the concert by the Original Hobo Band was extended an hour and the subsequent dancing was dropped from the evening activities. (We should be able to determine the exact year by looking at the programs for 1964-1967.) Also noteworthy are the appearance of Walt's Barber Shop and American Legion Post No. 192 to the list of contributors on the back cover.
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Wenonah parade 1968, Even the death of one's spouse wasn't a good enough excuse to forgo participation
Lauren Ward Larsen, 2011 Wenonah Legend, wrote the caption above and more about this parade photo in her blog.
Even when times were tough, the parade seemed to offer the perfect escape from the realities of a less-than-perfect life. Just two months after my father's sudden death in a small plane crash in 1968, Mom, now a single-mother with no (paid) job, no college degree, and no savings, rallied her children and put together a Charlie Brown-themed entry. Tim was Charlie Brown, Steph was Lucy, Karen was Linus and I--that little knucklehead in the white bathing cap and sunglasses--was The Red Baron.
While we didn't win Best in Parade, I suspect everyone watching us that day would've liked to award Mom Best Attitude in Parade for her courage in the face of daunting life circumstances. (FYI, these were the same people--friends and neighbors, all of them--who had quietly and graciously taken up a collection for our family when news of Dad's death spread like wild fire through our town.)
The photo above was given to me by Mrs. Sparks when I took a grad school pal to Wenonah with me to experience the magic that is the 4th of July parade. Mrs. Sparks always hosted a brunch following the parade, and her son Don, an old friend from childhood, invited us to join them. Seeing me there, Don's mother felt compelled to pull out her old photo albums and tell me how brave Mom had been during that time. Since then, I've always liked Mrs. Sparks a bit more than I already had for taking the time to share those kind words with me. Even two decades after the fact.
So, yeah, parades. Love 'em or hate 'em, they'll always hold a special place in my heart. Specifically, the Wenonah 4th of July parade.
Check out more of her blog at the following link.
