TRR photo by David Hulse “They should have mowed the shoulder of the road as they were coming up,” one observer said as this contingent of patriotic lawn tractors approached the town hall during Lumberland’s second annual 4th of July parade. (Click for larger image)

Lumberland parade marks
July 4th

By DAVID HULSE

GLEN SPEY, NY — Some 21 groups participated in Friday’s second annual Independence Day parade in Lumberland, according to organizer Joe Carr.

The line of march demonstrated the town’s growing diversity, as the traditional “Happy Birthday America” float was accompanied by saffron-robed Buddhist monks from the Kadampa Meditation Center and their float. The Lumberland Lions carrying their huge American flag were accompanied by a float from St. Vlodymers Ukrainian Catholic Church.

There were Brownies, Boy Scouts and 4Hers as well as the AARP’s float.

Port Jervis’ Broome Street Band had divided up into two contingents, one in traditional band dress, and a second fife and drum group in colonial period costumes. The band performed in concert at the Lumberland Senior Center following the parade.

The remainder of the town board rode on float, pulled by their colleague Faber Wilson on his garden tractor.

The high temperatures and heat did not detract from the turn out  unlike last year, when it appeared that most of the people in town were in the parade. This year there appeared to be a respectable number of spectators on hand. If Carr was disappointed when an accident call required the services of two of the parade’s four participating fire departments, he said he was very pleased with the effort everyone made to make the day a success.