Many deserve the credit
In spite of the soggy start to July 4th in Shepherdstown this year, the rain cleared out in time to allow fine conditions for the town’s parade and community picnic to go forward in good order. The skies may not have been sunny, but the temperature was cool!
Nine of the parade’s original 71 entries canceled because of the early morning rain. But three new entries showed up unannounced, and in the end the parade included 65 entries. That’s the same number we had in last year’s parade, which was a new record. And the crowds that turned out to watch the parade and attend the picnic seemed at least as large as last year’s.
As usual, a lot of people deserve credit for making the parade and picnic a success.
Many thanks are due to the hundreds of people who organized and participated in the many different units that marched in the parade–from Martinsburg’s Civil Air Patrol Squadron, which provided the color guard that led the parade to the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department, which closed the parade out. A lot of people put lots of time and effort into the parade’s many entries.
Thanks also to the hundreds more who turned out to watch the parade and attend the picnic. It’s great to see so many people take an interest in our little town, and support its events.
And thanks to our town’s elected officials, Mayor Jim Auxer, Recorder Lori Robertson, and other council members; to the town hall staff; and to our police and fire departments for being so supportive of these events.
Finally, we want to thank the following individuals for volunteering time and donating funds, materials, and services to help with the overall organization of the parade and picnic. Many, but by no means all, are members of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club. Hopefully this list includes everyone who helped, but so many were involved that we may have missed some.
Volunteers:
Holly Morgan Frye and Peter Smith, who directed the parade.
Other parade volunteers: Teri Biebel; Debbie Dickinson; Donovan Frye; Dave and Dore Ann Miljour; Paige Palmer; Kaitlyn Snyder; Meredith Wait; Rie Wilson; Paul Woods.
Todd Coyle, parade announcer.
Chef Miriam Conroy, who planned and directed all the food and drink service at the picnic, and her husband, Chris.
Carl Moore, who went way out of his way (literally) to provide ice cream for the picnic.
Walt Eifert, who helped plan the picnic, supervised its setup and, with his wife, Kim, helped staff it.
Tom Miller and Dana Orsini, who also helped plan the picnic.
Terry Anderson, who also helped with the planning and did a lot of heavy grilling, along with Brian Bender.
Sandy Brown, who organized the children’s activities at the picnic, with Jenny Seeley.
Other picnic volunteers: Lillian Anderson; Andy Beall; Jeff and Tessa Bowers; Kathryn Burns; Holly Frye; Gary Heichel; Dale Homan; Cheryl Keyrouze and her husband, Tom; Karen Kinnett; Kris Knott; Jack Lantzy; Monica Lockett; John Loeffler; David and Vaida Manthos; Keith McCall; Dave Miljour; Riley Moore; Charles Nieman and his wife, Rita; Peter Smith; Matthew Taylor; Paul Woods.
Donors:
Doug Alexander; Brown’s Tire and Auto Center; Walt Eifert; Holly Frye; Bill Gaestel; Elizabeth Granzow; Gary Heichel; Jefferson Distributing; Cheryl Keyrouze; Monica Lockett; Dave Miljour; Tom Miller; Charles Nieman; Progressive Printing; Peter Smith; Sandy Sponaugle.
Shepherdstown is a great place to live, in no small part because it includes so many enthusiastic, community-spirited people! Let’s all do our best to keep it that way in the years ahead!
Sincerely yours,
The officers and members of
The Rotary Club of Shepherdstown