Let's do it again next year.........

 A spectacular, All American memorable weekend.    Just so many highlights and unforgettable moments.     ( warning...long post as I have to capture all this for my aging memory cells).


We flew back to CT on Thursday and into  the high heat and humidity conditions.     The kids' schools were on early dismissal as not all are air conditioned.

On Saturday, we headed over to West Point for the Labor Day concert by the West Point Academy Band.    All career musicians with amazing talent.    Altho they have an outdoor concert every Sunday evening in the summers, the highlight is this night.    Many many years ago, we used to drive the 90 min several times each summer.    Jon took Mary Beth over on their 2nd date .... ( she had received an appointment to the Academy but did not accept it and went to U of Colorado)  We got there early to get our space on the natural amphitheater for the perfect view.    The Hudson River provides the stunning backdrop.   Notice the large barge passing by on the right.    Earlier there was a huge yacht heading north out of NYC.     The boys wandered the grounds and were awed with the history and the cannons and the majestic grey stone architecture.    They are avid 'Hamilton' fans.  I left the picture taking to Jon but don't have them at the moment.         We were treated to various groups practicing while we snacked and knit and people watched.     The music was of course patriotic. Don't we all need a bit of John Phillip Sousa to set the mood ?    They did Broadway hits, rock and a wonderful Proud Mary rendition altho the talented singer in her combat uniform and boots was a far cry from Tina Turner in 5 inch heels.     (the soldiers on grounds all wear the camouflage or their band uniforms).   But the performers were true professionals.   The highlight and most memorable was the finale "The 1812 Overture".   It is moving and just so awesome with cannons booming.     And then there were about 30 minutes of the most amazing fireworks, bursting closer than I thought possible but not unsafe as it was over the water.  

And then, because we hadn't  had enough fun, Monday rolled around and it was time for the 57th annual Newtown Labor Day parade.    Over the years, I don't think we missed any of them.   We used to ride our bikes to the parade, only about 5 miles but it was all up hill and we warmed up quickly in the early morning chilly air.   Of course, the ride home was much more fun.   Thru the various years, we marched, decorated floats, blew up balloons and waited for our favorite entries      I also don't think it's ever been rained out.    This morning dawned hazy hot and humid.    We had put out our chairs the night before.    By 7 pm on Sunday eve, there was a solid line of chairs along the parade route.    The next morning, when we arrived, a tech company advertised  with water bottles on each and every chair. 

 A view of Main Street with the flagpole that has been there forever and created consternation for many a vehicle unfamiliar to the courtesies and nuances of navigating this intersection.  This is a main road ( Route 25) that they close for almost 3 hours and the detours  long and tortuous  to get around. .

 The award winning NHS Marching Band leads  the parade.    This year, due to the unrelenting heat, they were allowed to dress more relaxed.   This is Mason .... they voted not to play a march and instead made another choice which wasn't my favorite but then, I didn't have to march and play and sweat.

 Andy was all in.......

Here's a mixture of the sights and colors..........

Lots of local fire trucks (there are 4 fire dept. in Newtown....even tho it's only about 25,000 people, it covers 60 sq miles ).    This one must be in a private collection as the "Last Resort and Engine 1 & only"....

Senator Blumenthal   marched.  

We had great seats in the shade.....

The Shriners in their noisy little cars have been in every parade I've been to......and always the crowd favorite as they zip around in their formations.

Newtown's Main street is a quintessential New England town with colonial homes dating back to the 1700's.    The weekly Newtown Bee  has been printed since 1870 (and owned by the same family since 1877) and it's weathervane is a well known landmark.   

Elvis showed up as Jon and the boys watched....

The Revolutionary War was represented...

As was the Civil War.....

And the bees and butterflies.....

The rooster on the top of the church has bullet holes in it from Revolutionary soldiers using it as target practice.   ( Rochambeau camped just down the hill ).

And after we got home, this was a cool respite before it was pickleball time......



It was a perfect weekend and we hope to make it  an annual event.....or as long as we have kids in the parade.  

We're back in beautiful Colorado where it is actually raining and there is a light dusting of snow on the mountains !!