1988 Fourth of July Committee Report

1988 212th Anniversary of American Independence

Committee Business

At its meeting of Sept. 24, 1987, the Fourth of July Committee elected new officers for the coming celebration year. Those elected to serve as officers for the 203rd celebration included:

General Chairman

Andrew J. Vorro, III

Vice Chairman

Elizabeth Ann Moreira

Treasurer

Roger Dubord

Recording Secretary

Elizabeth W. Cambra

Corresponding Secretary

Joan B. Farrar

Samuel R. Celone conducted the audit of Fourth of July Committee books and the Town Council received his report dated September 30, 1987 at its March 32, 1988 meeting.

Checking Account         $4,140.64

Savings Account                180.18

Cash on hand                       74.57

Total as of 09/30/87    $4,395.42

The two certificates of deposit, each for $10,000, were cashed and deposited into a statement savings account on Oct.10, 1986 and Jan. 23, 1987.

Before the Town Council’s vote to accept the auditor’s report, Councilman Cirillo stated that the town’s appropriation to the committee should be released only if the committee shows a need. He was of the opinion that the letter submitted does not state that the appropriation is warranted.

Councilman Marshall seconded Cirillo’s motion and the vote was unanimous to take the matter under advisement until Chairman Vorro could be present to show a need for the allocation.

Flag Day Ceremonies
A number of citizens gathered outside the Town Hall on Court Street to dedicate a new flagpole and to kick off the celebration.

The town’s Flag Day ceremonies incorporated the pledge of allegiance led by Town Council President Anthony P. Iasiello and remarks by Town Administrator Halsey C. Herreshoff, Chairman Vorro, and Chief Marshal Federico M. Pacheco. The Rev. Clifton Daniel, III, of St. Michael’s Church offered the prayer and James Berry, Bristol High School Orator, gave a patriotic reading.

Fundraising 
The Ways and Means Sub-Committee introduced some new ideas to raise much-needed funds for the approaching celebration: A mile-o’-quarters collection, and a Fourth of July Program. Committee member Jerry MacNeil said experience proves that Programs are not good sellers; he then suggested that Fourth of July souvenir pins would be a better seller. Also suggested was the idea of a yearlong raffle tied to a lottery, and a special concert.

Marilyn Holmes moved to hire a fundraising agency to decide what would be best, and to let them organize and run the fund raising events.

The result of these suggestions was that certain items destined to become Bristol 4th of July collectibles were marketed: a dated pin, an official T-shirt with committee logo, and an official program booklet (which incidentally was not a good seller).

Highlights of the Celebration 
The events planned for the celebration of the 212th anniversary of American Independence began on Flag Day, June 14, and came to a blockbuster climax on July 5, after 40 individual events took place. Contests, concerts, dances and receptions filled the weeks.

In its third year, the Anything That Floats contest drew more contestants than the previous two years, and the entries were more imaginative and humorous. The burlesque of floating contraptions exhibited by the contestants was reminiscent of the Antiques and Horribles parades that used to thread Bristol’s streets.

Other activities included the annual road race, a sanctioned event that began and finished at Guiteras School; the annual sailboat race in Bristol Harbor; a patriotic sing-a-long at Gillary’s Pub on Thames Street that drew an enthusiastic and orderly crowd; Ron Bianco & Bilbo the singing dog entertained on the Colt Memorial School steps. While the committee and town officials were at the reception for visiting military at the Bristol Yacht Club, residents listened to the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble at the Colt Memorial School.

Sunday, June 26, was a busy day: the 26th Annual Firemen’s Field Day began at 10 o’clock at Independence Park; there was an Ecumenical Service at St. Michael’s Church at noon; the Anything that Floats Contest at 1 p.m., followed at 4 p.m., by the annual Orange Crate Derby on Bayview Avenue. Later, at 7 p.m., the US Coast Guard Band concert and US Coast Guard Drill Team entertained on the Colt Memorial School steps.

The Fourth
The patriotic exercises that precede the splash of color and noise of the parade is the calm time of serious speeches on the meaning of the celebration: the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the introduction of veterans, and town and visiting dignitaries.

 “We feel very fortunate to live in this great nation,” said the Chief Marshal, who emigrated from the Azores 20 years earlier.

Under bright sunshine in a clear sky, the marchers — politicians, musicians, military men of all ranks and all services, veterans, firemen, boy scouts, clowns, and even 2 Uncle Sams — paraded through the press-of-humanity that was here to see a big show — and big it was. Parade orders listed 130 individual entries in nine different categories, which amounted to almost 5,500 participants in the procession. The line of marchers stretched longer than the length of the parade route, the march took about 2-1/2 hours to pass one spot.

Even as the first paraders were passing the reviewing stand at the Court House on High Street, there were three more divisions still waiting back on Chestnut Street to begin their 2.6-mile hike. The small beaches at harbor-side points along the parade route were congested with skiffs and dinghies from the hundreds of boats moored in the harbor that brought parade watchers. With shores of the east harbor so crowded, some people reached Hope Street by jumping into the bay and swimming to shore.

Other people taking no chances arrived Sunday night to stake out their viewing spots. Some Hope Street residents roped off their favorite spots Saturday afternoon in hopes of securing good vantage points for themselves and family guests. Paul Phalon parked his truck on a corner on the High Street leg of the parade and erected a scaffolding rig on the truck bed, creating a viewing stand.

Within ninety-minutes after the last marcher had crossed the finish line, traffic in the harbor and on the streets was back to normal.

Soviets Join Festivities 
A group of Soviet (USSR) officials just happened to be in Bristol on the Fourth. They were part of an 11-member party of USSR theater officials visiting the United States for conferences with American theater officials about cultural exchange programs.

Members of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT, suggested showing the Russian visitors some Americana. He asked Chairman Vorro if they could come to the parade; the Soviets watched the parade from the reviewing stand as Vorro’s guests.

Vorro Writes a Letter
Committee Chairman Andrew J. Vorro, III, made the following remarks in a letter the Phoenix editor.

 Our 1988 budget exceeded $90,000.00. With this we sponsored over 20 concerts, 2 sailboat races, 2 road races, a parade with over 5,000 participants and 150,000 spectators, and a fireworks display and concert that was superb.

We also served and paid for almost 1000 meals for military and various other participants. We supplied almost 350 nights lodging to many participants in our concerts and parade.

I have three simple solutions to the few complaints that I have read or heard: One, sit back, try to enjoy; two, contribute in some way to try to improve our show; three, stay away.

 On The Police Blotter - 4th of July 
Police were called to quell a fight at Thames and Franklin Streets, 11:55 a.m.  Two officers approached the man and his wife and warned them to stop. The man yelled at the officers; making obscene gestures while holding his genitals in his hand. The officers tried to arrest him, but he resisted violently, punching, kicking, and biting. The man’s wife tried to interfere, at one point pulling the officer’s nightstick from his belt and trying to hit him with it. With the help of additional officers, the pair was subdued, arrested and charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Police officer Guercia was treated for a severe bite on one finger.

Postscript 
Ironically, in the Phoenix wrap-up stories about the celebration dated July 7, 1988, a short article appeared begging for new members for the Celebration Committee; “To be a member, you must be at least 18 years old, a Bristol resident and willing to work,” wrote past Chairman James W. Farley, Jr. 

This was the only request for new members that the author has found in any Phoenix newspaper since 1826.