Old Lyme — The town's beach communities converged Saturday in the Sound View section of the shoreline to ring in the Fourth of July and reconnect with one another at an annual parade focused on family and fun.
Old Colony Beach residents Cathy and Larry Michaud participated in the festivities from one of six golf carts decked out in red, white and blue as they followed a route that covered portions of Hartford, Swan and Portland avenues before ending where it began: at the Shoreline Community Center.
Cathy Michaud looked out from behind star-shaped, patriotic sunglasses with a tall hat perched on her head and a fake beard framing her face. Larry introduced her as Auntie Sam, though Cathy preferred to be called Uncle Samantha.
"It's just good to get the spirit back," she said. "We need more of this."
The Michauds' golf cart hugged the curb when they caught sight of long lost friends in the crowd of onlookers that had lined up on the side of Hartford Avenue.
"Haven't seen you guys in a year," Larry called out. "Happy Fourth!"
The parade included members of the American Legion Post 41 and VFW Post 1467, local dignitaries, kids on foot, bikes and scooters, and Old Lyme first responders in their blaring vehicles. The assembled crowd waved flags and held balloons provided by the Sound View Beach Association.
A color guard composed of members of the American Legion Post 41 and VFW Post 1467 included Vietnam veteran and First Selectman Tim Griswold. They halted at the flag in front of Sound View Beach while the Silver Cornet Marching Band played "The Star-Spangled Banner," then continued on the route.
For the Gibson family of Massachusetts this year marked their third season vacationing in Old Lyme and their first time watching the parade, which was returning after a one-year coronavirus pandemic hiatus.
Ava Gibson, 4, proudly displayed two green apple lollipops and small plastic flying discs she'd caught along the way.
She said she was most impressed by the firetrucks and ambulances.
Ava's parents, Tashanna and Devin Gibson, described the Old Lyme beach community as a welcoming one where they feel Ava and 2-year-old Luke are safe.
"It's nice seeing our first responders," Tashanna said. "Being able to clap for them, thank them."
Frank Pappalardo, a member of both the private Sound View Beach Association and the municipal Sound View Commission, described himself as the parade's "unofficial announcer." He said the parade "ties together" the various beach associations: "It's a sense of community to a lot of people."
One of those people was Debra Tulisano, who watched from her summer cottage on Hartford Avenue as members of her family participated in the parade. "It's a family tradition," she said. She noted her granddaughters won awards for their patriotic participation in each of the past three parades.
For Tulisano, who took video of her granddaughters as they paraded by, and for many of the others along the route, the most important part of the festivities was the kids.
Joann Lishing, a year-round Sound View resident, led the parade while waving a large American flag and dancing for children along the route as the marching band played behind her.
"The kids get so excited," she said after the parade. "Their eyes are wide open and happy."
She recalled that it was children who started the tradition about 25 years ago, with just one red wagon with a boom box playing the national anthem.
Besides watching the kids, she said the best part was seeing the babies. And they were everywhere: in strollers, in golf carts, in wraps or backpacks worn by their parents.
Lishing said her grandmother — whom she described with a chuckle as an "old Italian lady" — used to look at her and say, "It's all about the babies."
"And I see what she means," Lishing said. "This is good fun for them."
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Sound View parade provides 'good fun' for children of all ages - theday.com
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