A Memorial Parade

Who doesn't love a parade?

We both do and for as long as we've been living in Nashua, NH, almost 10 years, we've always attended the Memorial Day parade here. Patrick is a U.S. Navy veteran.

The parade was held downtown along Main Street and started at 10:30 am from the Holman Stadium ballpark. It was canceled for a few years because of we-all-know-what.

Nashua police and fire department honor guards always start are the first units to march.

The city holds two parades to honor those who served. A Veterans Day parade in November  commemorates the signing of the WW I armistice at 11 am on November 11, 1918.

Lots of folks turned out on a perfect parade day with blue skies and sun after rain and cloudy skies had dominated most of the holiday weekend. A police estimate placed the Main Street turnout at roughly 2 thousand out of a current population of over 91,000.  Crowds were larger years ago, according to a 1958 newspaper article, the parade that year attracted some 13,000 people, a third of Nashua's then estimated 40,000 population

There are three high schools and three middle schools in Nashua, NH; two of the high schools and all three middle schools were represented by students in marching band units. 

The American Legion and Boy Scouts were represented by these young marchers.

Sidewalk crowds were enthusiastic to the point of using a notebook PC to video the parade.

A number of younger parade watchers along the route were dressed in colorful t-shirts.

Traditionally, fire engines and ambulances have signaled the end of the parade.

However, this year, it ended with these newest members of the Nashua Police Department (NPD) which recently established a mounted unit, featuring Mac, a Belgian draft horse, and Maddie, a Gypsy Vanner cross. This is a self-funded, non-profit unit, which means there is no financial burden to the community. The goal is to enhance public safety and community outreach. (FYI the horses had pouches behind them and did not leave any on street deposits.)

This canine was in a car that passed after it the parade ended and too late to view it.

Fields of Dreams display in Hudson, NH, by American Legion

We hope that bloggers in the U.S. had a good holiday weekend, however it was observed. Ours was spent at home in Nashua; we watched the parade and visited with friends.