Morristown parade 'the place to be on the Fourth'

MORRISTOWN — The threat of Independence Day rain didn't dampen spirits along Main Street for spectators taking in the village's annual parade.

The village's population is about 500, but thousands flock to the sleepy St. Lawrence River community every year, rain or shine, to watch high school marching bands, classic cars and volunteer fire departments make their way along the parade route.

"It's a tradition," said Stephen A. Spilman, parade chairman. "Morristown is the place to be on the Fourth."

Rhonda L. Roethel, Lisbon, said she has attended the parade almost annually since she was a child.

"You could have pouring rain, and this many people will still show up," she said.

Awareness of the tradition apparently extends outside the north country's borders. North Syracuse residents Corrine E. Rutkowski, 10, and her big brother, Carson A., 11, are fast-becoming parade regulars. They stood on the curb clutching plastic firemen's helmets heaped full of candy thrown from passing fire trucks, flanked by their father, Christopher A., and grandmother, M. Sally Dumas.

"I like the bands," Corrine said. "I like to watch the color guard stuff."

"I like the candy," Carson said.

Mr. Rutkowski said the family has attended the parade for five out of the past 10 years while spending the summer at a camp on the river.

Seasonal Alexandria Bay residents Frederick C. and Margaret J. Steele, of Auburndale, Fla., said they were looking forward to the fire department-sponsored chicken barbecue after the parade. They said they've been faithful parade attendees since they began spending the summer on the river 10 years ago.

"It's the best around," Mr. Steele said. "If ever we're in the area on July 4, we're here."