Declaration

Woodbury, Connecticut 

This morning the Woodbury Democratic Town Committee held a ceremony to celebrate Independence Day. People gathered near the Library steps to hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Doug Schlicher. The simple event ended with the singing of the National Anthem.

(Click on any picture for a larger view of them all.)

37th Annual July 4 Boom Box Parade

Willimantic, Connecticut

The unique thing about this Independence Day parade is that there are no marching bands. Also no registration or paperwork for anyone or any group who wants to participate. You just need to show up with a boom box (or a vehicle's sound system) and tune it to the local radio station,WILI. They play music appropriate to the occassion. I thought it was cool for the library staff to turn up to march and promote reading.

The marchers and spectator crowd were both a lot larger than the couple of other times I've been here. Right now they're trying to spot a colorfull hot air baloon drifting in from the west.

A lot of the participants intended to project social and political messages.

Note the eponymous boom box.

The two macaws were imitating female human parade screaming, but louder.

The messages kept coming.

Not everyone wanted to project something beyond the stars and stripes.

The sponsoring radio station's parade wheels.

"Support civil review board" translates to a demand for police reform.

 

I don't think I have to explain any of the rest.