MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

I hope you have all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Except for Joe being sick, it has been a wonderful one for me.  Saturday was the cookout at my sister's house where I had a blast.  Sunday was church with three visitors and a chance to just nap and take it easy.  Yesterday was the annual parade which I never miss.  I've been in my house since 1980 so for 37 years I've been watching that parade.

Let me start by showing you how I decorated the front of my house.  I have my flag on my front door as usual.  Joe has been polishing his combat boots every day for a month because he was going to march with his veterans group.  But because he was sick, he couldn't.  So he asked me to put them in the front window and make a little display of them.  I did what I thought looked good and he loved it.

Now here's the parade.  I hope you enjoy it.

The crowd began to gather as 10:00 approached.  I gathered up my folding chair and found a spot on the sidewalk.  I looked up and down the street and saw there were so many people out this year.

Of course before the parade the ever present vendors showed up.
 

I got a kick out of this lady because she was using a Pathmark grocery cart.  Pathmark is the store my sister Elaine worked at for 35 years and that closed down a couple of years ago.
 

Then the police cars came down the street and we knew the parade was about to begin.
 

First was the Aqua String Band.

Next was the Philadelphia Viet Nam Veterans group.  Even though Joe was too young for Viet Nam, this is the group he's a part of.  They stopped in front of their clubhouse and gave a 21 gun salute.

Then there was the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums.  They are in it every year and always get a big round of applause when they show up.

The Boy Scouts were there.

And, of course, the Girl Scouts.
 

Even a Girl Scout dog was there.
 

This is a dance troup that did a little performance for us.
 

What parade in Philly would be complete without Ben Franklin and Uncle Sam?
 

The big yellow thing in these pictures is a post I was behind.  I had the perfect spot and then a car came and parked where I couldn't see anything.  So I moved.  I could see now, but there was a pole in front of me.  *sigh*

This is a group from Cinnaminson, New Jersey.  They come every year and are very good.
 

Here's the American Legion.

The Grand Marshall was a World War II veteran.  I'm sorry I didn't get his name.  How wonderful to have him there.
 

Betsy Ross usually walks, but this day she rode in style.
 

Next was the Hegeman String Band.  I was so happy there were so many string bands in the parade.
 

The Irish Thunder was there too.  They are another group who come every year.

After another American Legion group and another Boy Scout troup, the Outboard Motor Club came.

Another string band.  This time it's the Polish American.
 

But as you can see in the video it started to rain.  At first it was just a few drops which didn't bother me.  Then it got harder.  I pulled my sweater up over my head.  But then it poured.  I gathered up my chair and went home.  I stuck my chair in the alleyway and stood on my front step under the awning to stay dry.  Since I am only the next street back I could still (sort of) see the parade.  Of course the next group that came was the one I really wanted to see -- the Civil War Reinactors.  I tried to take a few pictures from the step, but they really didn't turn out very well.

But when I saw a Fancy Brigade from the Mummers, I went into the house, grabbed an umbrella, and went back to the parade.

When I saw the ambulance and fire truck I thought the parade was over because they are usually at the end.  But I was wrong.

Behind them was the award winning Ferko String Band.  And in costume too!

Finally the police car came and it was the end of the parade.

Except for one straggling antique car.  Does anyone know what car this is?  I saw on the back it was a Chevrolet but I have no idea of the model.

With the parade over I went back home.  I met a couple of my neighbors who I talked to for a few minutes.  Of course after the parade was over, so was the rain.  We have gotten rain every day for the last two weeks.  I am so over the rain.

Joe was feeling a little better at dinner time.  I made spare ribs, corn on the cob and had apple pie.  Joe said his appetite was coming back so I take that as a good sign.

Tonight I made pork chops, rice and buttered corn.  We had strawberries for dessert.  Joe ate them all.  He hasn't been eating for about four days so this is really good.

It is late so I am getting off of here and finish the things I need to do before I go to bed.  Thanks for coming along for this long post.  Tomorrow is the last day of the month so I'll be doing my end of the month post.  Wait till you see the temperature afghan!

Kathy