Grandeur and tradition mark Narrowsburg celebration

	TRR photo by Charlie Buterbaugh The Black Diamonds of Scranton, PA kept the music playing through the streets of Narrowsburg despite a hazy, hot and humid July 5 parade day. When they arrived at the turn at Bridge Street, where the parade was supposed to end, the pipers pushed forward instead to the Narrowsburg Inn “for a cold beer.” (Click for larger image)

By RICHARD A. ROSS

NARROWSBURG, NY — “The Thing to Do Since 1902”, the Narrowsburg Independence Day Celebration lived up to its fine tradition as Grand Marshall “Bud” Stranahan headed up a parade that featured all the requisite elements of the rousing Independence Day event. This year the parade was made even more special by the upcoming sesquicentennial anniversary of the Town of Tusten and the 101st birthday of the Narrowsburg Fire Department.

Undaunted by the hazy, hot weather, the marchers heeded the blaring noon siren and started on their way through the streets amid cheers and whistles. As flags waved and candy flew from the floats and cars sailed into the crowd, The Black Diamonds of Scranton, PA kept the music playing.

Spectators were privy to an eyeful and earful as Fire Engines blared their sirens. Fire companies hailed from Chenango, NY; Emerson, NJ; Jeffersonville, Lake Huntington, Lava, Rockville Center, Smallwood/Mongaup Valley, Welcome Lake, White Lake, and Yulan. The fire apparatus, including an antique, hearkened back to Narrowsburg’s early years. Also present was the Tusten Ambulance Corps.

Adding beauty to grandeur, Parade Beauty Queen, seventeen-year-old Christianna Cortese, was chauffeured by Lew Meckle. Speaking of tradition, Meckle is a regular in the parade in his 1931 Ford Roadster, a car he has had since 1957. Over the years, many stunning beauties have adorned the back seat of Lew’s blue Roadster.

Exuding cadence and grandeur, the Fifes and Drums of the Broome Street Band of Port Jervis added character and atmosphere to the parade. Richard and Alex Lander navigated the streets on their scooters and Sarah Lander walked on stilts as the Landers’ River Trip Float “sailed” by. Antique cars including a gold-colored Corvette added to the classic flavor.

According to Fire Chief Craig Burkle, the parade was a great success.

“It’s always a good sign when I go past my office on 240 Bridge Street and the parade is still coming down the hill by Narrowsburg Motors,” said Burkle.

	TRR photo by Charlie Buterbaugh The Narrowsburg Volunteer Fire Department selected Christianna Cortese as its 2003 parade beauty queen. (Click for larger image)

The parade wended its way down to Lander’s field where throngs of people gathered to continue the weekend celebration that had begun the previous day. As the DJ pumped music, children went on rides and firemen and friends gathered at the beer tent. The delicious aroma of the chicken barbecue wafted over the field. Six hundred chicken halves were sold.

Sauntering through the impressive array of crafts and vendors afforded people a chance to bring something home to remember the day by. The Yulan Fire Company won the Bucket Brigade and Obstacle Course competition.

As daylight waned and the heat began to dissipate, people awaited the coup de grace, the annual fireworks display that has traditionally turned normally sparse Narrowsburg traffic into a mini-version of New York City rush hour.

The wait was worth it. At approximately 9:30 p.m., the air was punctuated by the first boom as the sky lit up with cascading, colored sparks. Soaring above the town, the non-stop show continued for at least twenty minutes, culminating in a succession of simultaneous scintillation. The fireworks were co-sponsored by Ned Lang of Roto Rooter Environmental and Narrowsburg Motors.

As the smoke drifted over the Delaware, the celebration waned living up to its reputation as “The Thing to Do Since 1902.”