Narrowsburg celebrates the 4th and the end of the flood

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG, NY - It wasn’t a big July 4th parade like in the past, but it was a joyous one.

“It says we’re still open after the flood,” said Tusten supervisor Ben Johnson. “This is a good break after all the community has been through, after all the hard work done by the fire department to help people in the community survive some tough times. The Narrowsburg Fire Department did an outstanding job. We wanted to be sure we could still hold the parade. Everybody made a super effort to make it happen.”

The grand master of the parade was First Sergeant Andy Tiernan of Company A of the 109th Infantry National Guard, who just returned with his unit after serving 18 months in Iraq. The 109th, which sustained no deaths or injuries overseas, is quartered in the Lemnitzer Armory in Honesdale, PA.

There were the usual behemoth fire trucks from Narrowsburg, Lava and neighboring fire departments with their ear splitting sirens. There was the United Methodist Church’s float with the theme “For God and Country,” the Junior Stepping Team from the Gheez Academy, The River Reporter, advocating support of the First Amendment and handing out free papers, Cochecton’s Judge Bob Meyer with his granddaughter, beauty queens and a bevy of red, white and blue balloons from Lander’s River Trips.

“We’re just happy that we survived the flood and we want to celebrate,” said Lisa Lander, of Landers River Trips.

The drone of the bagpipes of Scranton’s Black Diamonds was the icing on the cake.

“We just moved in, and we’re so happy to be in such a beautiful community that has so much wonderful spirit,” said Sheila Morrola, of Narrowsburg and Manhattan’s West Side.