Behind the scenes as a Wellesley Veterans Parade display
After 20 years, we finally got the call we’d been waiting for. The Wellesley Celebrations Committee formally invited The Swellesley Report to ride in a fancy convertible up Washington Street as part of the 57th Annual Veterans Parade during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. What’s more, we were to collect a major award at the reviewing stand. Let’s go.
At the Community Center staging area, volunteers checked us in, and we made our way over to our parade line-up spot. Stilt walkers strode about; a marching band warmed up; and antsy clowns hopped from one foot to the other. General Washington and First Lady Martha inspected the scene, and scout troops looked around for opportunities to be helpful. Fancy cars—Mercedes’, BMW’s and a mint-condition 1963 Pontiac Bonneville lined up with DPW vehicles ready to pull flatbed float trailers down the parade route. The scene was like the circus had come to town.
But because this is Wellesley, and Celebrations Committee Chair (and U.S. veteran) Royall Switzler had a bullhorn and wasn’t afraid to use it, it was an immensely organized circus.
Experiencing the route was a blast. Kids shouted out to us, “Got any candy? Can I ride with you?” No to the ride. But of course we had candy. Our swell son was a popular fixture along the route, passing out treats to the kids. One kid, seeing we were recording the scene, yelled out: “Am I going to be famous?”
As parade displays, we took our role seriously, from our endless candy supply to waving.
We waved to kids, babes-in-arms, their families, and seniors. We waved to those who knew us, and to those who looked puzzled. We waved to the many fine pups along the route. We even waved to the commuter rail as it beeped its way through town.
Our volunteer driver, Sarah Foley, glided her convertible to a stop at the review stand. There we saw Tori DeFazio, resplendent in his dress military regalia, greeting us with kind words. We were too excited reaching for our plaque to even hear what he said. Something about our 20th anniversary of covering Wellesley news?
We admit emerging from the experience with swelled heads. Along the entire parade route the celebrity treatment was in force. We got, “We love you, Swellesley!,” and “Congratulations!” and huge “Woos!” from the crowd.
As our driver exited the parade route, she wasn’t done volunteering for the day. A member of the Wellesley Postcomers, Sarah was next on duty at Village Church for the post-parade reception. We would have to find our own way back to the Community Center.
After a celebratory debrief in Village Church’s sunny events space, we hopped the shuttle. One minute we were luminaries in a snazzy red BMW convertible. The next, we rumbled through the streets anonymously in a big yellow school bus. No more crowds. No more accolades. Just a one-way trip back to the Community Center.
Thanks for an amazing day, Wellesley. Heck, thanks for an amazing 20 years. Let’s keep this local news coverage/readership thing we have going, shall we?
We shall. Time for us to get back to work.
Did you enjoy the parade, picnic, fireworks, and everything else that made up Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend? Please donate to the Celebrations Committee to keep the party going next year.