Wolfeboro parade pays homage to military, vets

WOLFEBORO ? Thousands of onlookers turned out for the annual Independence Day parade, where the theme, ?Welcome Home, Our Returning Heroes,? honored active-duty service personnel and veterans.

In answer to parade organizer Harold Chamberlin's prayers, early showers cleared resulting in a hot day with a light breeze from Lake Winnipesaukee, cooling off throngs of fans of all ages. Aside from approximately 56 businesses, organizations and individual parade entrants, many elected officials turned out; including Republican presidential candidate and Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney, who is vacationing in here this week at his lakeside estate with 30 family members, including his wife, Anne, attracted hundreds of well-wishers and supporters carrying signs along the parade route. Security officials from the Secret Service and some members of the New Hampshire State Police, county sheriff's department and local police worked to keep crowds back from the candidate as he shook hands and posed for a few photographs along the way.

Romney is attracting international media attention, as a flatbed truck carrying videographers and photographers preceded his parade group. Articles on his Wolfeboro ties and vacation this week have run in the New York Times as well as the United Kingdom's edition of the Wall Street Journal.

The parade attracts visitors from near and far. Beth and Scott Berger, celebrating their first wedding anniversary, drove up from Massachusetts just for the parade. This was their first time.

Ali Sekou of Niger, West Africa, is here visiting friends in Wolfeboro. ?I love it, ? he said of the event.

Wayne and Patricia Tucker come to the parade every year. They live in Florida, but summer in South Berwick, Maine. ?This is a great parade,? said Wayne. ?It's extra special.?

This year's parade included marchers and vehicles from the area's farms, children's groups, dance academies, private businesses and local museums, including the Libby Museum, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the Wright Museum of World War II history.

Debbie Maher of Londonderry and her family just bought a second home in Wolfeboro. This year, Maher's sons and husband participated in the Wright Museum's display and either drove or rode in refurbished military vehicles.

David Janik, dressed in red, white and blue, said he and his family came to Wolfeboro to stay with parents after storms knocked out power at his home in Ohio. ?We're without power until July 8th,? he said.

Independence Day was expected to go out with a bang, with a fireworks display at dusk off Brewster Field.

Source: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120704/NEWHAMPSHIRE/707059979&source=RSS

time change daylight savings rpi dst friends with kids pacific standard time northern mariana islands