2000 Bristol 4th of July Celebration Report

Two Hundred Twenty-third Anniversary of American Independence

New Year, New Officers        

On September 14, 1999, Chairman Richard Luiz convened the meeting with thanks to his officers, subcommittee chairs, and his Chief Marshals of the two previous years and handed the meeting over to the Nominating Subcommittee.

 The new officers for the 2000 Fourth of July celebration:

Chairman

Frances O’Donnell

Vice Chairman

Donna St. Angelo

Treasurer

Donna Falcoa

Recording Secretary

Gena Moreira

Corresponding Secretary

Kimberly Campbell

08/31/99

Deposits

Withdrawals

BAL: 09/30/99

$86,976.37

$5,026.08

$19,903.41

$92,193.01

Fourth of July Ball
At the May 10, meeting Sandy Ruggiero reported that the Fourth of July Ball would be held on July 1, at the Newport Viking Hotel. She said that busses and drivers were hired to transport patrons to and from the hotel. Tickets: $35.00 per person.

For the first time in the 40-year history of the Fourth of July Ball, the affair was held outside of Bristol. It was a star-spangled evening as two hundred people danced the night away in the Viking’s glittering, spacious ballroom. After a sumptuous multi-course meal, participants chatted, renewed memories of past Balls, and later sang patriotic songs.

There was the traditional call to colors by a contingent from the Bristol Train of Artillery, led by Major General Everett Francis of the Rhode Island Militia. The highlight of the evening was the traditional Grand March; this year directed by past chairman and Committee Military Liaison James W. Farley, Jr. It included members of Chief Marshal Anthony P. Iasiello’s family, local, state, and federal political figures, and members of the Fourth of July Committee.

Later, a beaming Iasiello, a retired Bristol High School Principal and former Town Council Chairman said, “I’m thoroughly enjoying all of this. It’s nice to be surrounded by all of my family and friends here.”^[1]

In her final Subcommittee report on the Ball, Sandy Ruggiero said they went over budget by $1,089.14. The Committee handed out $1,120.00 in complimentary tickets^.[2]

1999 – 2000 Projected Budget

INCOME

EXPENSE

Ball

1,500.00

Archives

300.00

Car Show

Badges & Plaques

1,250.00

Card Party

1,200.00

Bands

75,000.00

Carnival

15,000.00

Bank/Uncollected

 no report

Circus

1,500.00

Capital Expenditures

2,500.00

Concessions

1,500.00

Ecumenical Service

400.00

Drum Corps Competition

8,500.00

Enlisted Men’s Party

1,000.00

General

Firemen’s Field Day

600.00

Income Interest

Fireworks

25,000.00

Lottery

6,000.00

Fireworks/Police

4,000.00

Master List

8,500.00

Flag Day Reception

1,200.00

Mini Flags

1,500.00

Floats

500.00

Miss 4^th Pageant

1,000.00

General

4,000.00

Parade Collection

3,000.00

Housing for Bands

10,000.00

Savings

40,000.00

Military Food/Concerts

750.00

Souvenirs

7,000.00

Military Food/Parade

750.00

Special Gifts/Comm Book

30,000.00

Miss 4^th of July Float

1,000.00

State Appropriation

12,000.00

Music & Entertainment

8,500.00

Television

10,500.00

Old Fashion Days

500.00

Town Appropriation

15,000.00

Orange Crate Derby

500.00

Vending

25,000.00

Paper Goods

500.00

Ways & Means

3,000.00

Parade

15,000.00

Patriotic Exercises

500.00

Policy

250.00

Reception for Officials

1,750.00

Special Attraction

35,000.00

Special Events

600.00

Utilities

350.00

TOTAL

191,700.00

TOTAL

191,700.00

Celebration of the Century 
Patriotic Exercises began at 8:30 a.m., sharp, when Town Crier Gerry McNeill clang-clanged his ceremonial bell and announced the beginning of ceremonies. Lieutenant Governor Charles E. Fogerty followed, reminding listeners that “Today, Bristol is not only Rhode Island’s home town, it is also America’s home town.”

Fogerty’s succinct address was followed in rapid succession by presentation of the Hattie Brown Award to Anthony Desmaires. Next, was the presentation of a flag to Bristol native Nancy Ragano Athfield who traveled from New Zealand to be home on the Fourth.

Miss Fourth of July Heidi Squries and Little Miss Fourth Shannen Doherty were introduced to the crowd and received bouquets from the Committee.

Speaker of the Day, son of past Chief Marshal and former Town Administrator Thomas H, Byrnes, Jr., Brigadier General Michael T. Byrnes, USA (ret), focused on the key role played by families and communities in developing patriotism.

 “The family,” he said, “is the key element in developing those values that underlie patriotism.” He listed duty, responsibility, loyalty, and tolerance as some of those key qualities.

 “The development of a healthy and rational patriotism begins in communities like Bristol where civic responsibility are part of the fabric of life,” he said.

On the parade route people sauntered through a forest of shoulder-to-shoulder plastic lawn chairs to find a perfect viewing spot. Others with hat and bothered children in tow took the first unoccupied patch of lawn and spread out their battered blankets. By 10:30 a.m., the sidewalks of Hope Street were tightly packed. Bristol Police Lieutenant Gregory P. Ursini estimated the crowd at 200,000.

A pair of police cruisers crept through the crowded street with sirens screaming, clearing the way for the approaching marchers. Next came the town crier ringing his bell, then the rumble of a marching band could be heard, the crowd broke out in cheers and shouts as the nation’s oldest Independence Day parade began to pass.

A new parade feature, at the cost of $6,000, was the addition of several helium filled character balloons. Balloon handlers were kept busy navigating the balloons under and around low hanging tree limbs and utility wires.

Vendors hawking balloons shaped like dolphins, giant green inflated aliens, and other gaudy souvenirs pushed their carts in gutters trying to avoid the feet of people sitting on the curbs. Children bought boxes of snappers¾pill-sized paper rolls of gunpowder¾detonated by flicking against the sidewalk. These mini-explosions are nothing compared to the heart-stopping cannon fire from Everett Francis’ golf cart mounted artillery, or the booming of the big bass drums of the parade’s 24 bands.

Not all of the bands were marching drum and bugle corps. There were six fife-and-drum corps, two marimba bands, plus three bagpipe bands the musicians replete with Scottish highland regalia including kilts and dirks. Some bands came from the States of Georgia, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware; and even Ontario, Canada to march in the parade. Their overlapping music made a delightful cacophony.

Eclectic music and sights made the parade an audio and visual extravaganza. Floats¾the most essential part of the visual portion of the parade, of course, were many and varied in theme and quality. While two floats seemed to have had the potential to spark controversy, both passed through the parade route with hardly a negative comment.

Eight years after their first appearance in the Bristol parade, the Rhode Island Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights received polite applause rather than the catcalls and thrown eggs that greeted them in 1992.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and Bristol’s St. Elizabeth Church joined forces to cosponsor an antiabortion float, “Freedom to Live for All: Declaration of Independence.” The Rev. Thomas Ferland, of St. Elizabeth’s, said this was the first time the church had a float in the parade and it was the first time the Diocese of Providence entered the parade too.

New to the parade was the National Association for the Advancement of Nigeria. Its float, “Independence Accentuates,” featured Nigerian music and dancers.

By 2 p.m. the parade had completed its route on Hope and High Streets; the streets that were jammed with spectators were now empty as a light rain began to fall.

Fireworks.
The fireworks display planned for launching over Bristol Harbor from Poppasquash Road was canceled because of 25 mph winds. Fireworks Committee Chairman Roger Dubord said this was the first time the scheduled display was canceled since 1992. A superior show was presented on Wednesday, July 5. 

BAL: 08/31/00

Deposits

Withdrawals

BAL: 09/30/00

$161,651.24

$981.50

$37,374.62

$125,451.99

[1] Iasiello held his reception under a large tent on the east lawn of Linden Place. The affair was not as sumptuous as some recent past receptions. Some eminent and well-known Bristolians were conspicuous by their absence.

[2] Though not in Ruggiero’s report, we may assume Chief Marshal Iasiello’s family, the local, state, and federal politicians, and select members of the Fourth of July Committee received the gratis admissions.