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Memorial Day Parade 2015: Families & Flips, Bands & Brothers

Warwick, RI – Families lined Warwick Avenue and West Shore Road Monday morning to see a community-spanning collection of visual and musical treats in the city’s Memorial Day Parade.

Chuck and Jake Holm waited on Oakland Beach Avenue alongside the American Legion Shields Post 43’s recently restored vintage “40 & 8″ truck, waiting to bring up the rear of the parade.

Members of American Legion Shields Post ride in the Memorial Day Parade March 25 on their recently restored vintage “40 & 8″ truck.
Members of American Legion Shields Post ride in the Memorial Day Parade March 25 on their recently restored vintage “40 & 8″ truck.

Chuck found the replica “40 & 8″ truck, named because it could carry 40 horses and 8 men in Paris in World War I in Paris, on a farm in Coventry. The truck had once belonged to American Legion Post 2 in West Warwick, but had fallen into disrepair.

“We didn’t want to see it go to the grave yard,” Jake said, so the Legion raised about $5,000 to restore it. They finished the job in time for this year’s parade, he said.

Across the street, in the back lot of Bishop Hendricken School, the balance of the parade divisions waited.

Parade organizer Tony Rodrigues and Parade Grand Marshal  Christine A. Kelley prepare for the start of the Memorial Day Parade May 25.
Parade organizer Tony Rodrigues and Parade Grand Marshal Christine A. Kelley prepare for the start of the Memorial Day Parade May 25.

Taking point were the Warwick Police Color Guard, and Christine A. Kelley, the first woman promoted to Major in the Warwick Police Department, named Grand Marshal for the parade.

Following between the WPD and the Legion were a wide array of Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, high school bands, classic cars and a gigantic snow plow form T.F. Green Airport.

Members of the Providence Turners Gymnastics Team Flip past spectators during Warwick's Memorial Day Parade.
Members of the Providence Turners Gymnastics Team Flip past spectators during Warwick’s Memorial Day Parade.

Families sat along Oakland Beach Avenue and West Shore Road, waving from lawn chairs, blankets and the backs of trucks as the parade marched and rolled past.  Children caught or scooped up candy thrown from the trucks, marvelled at the fire trucks and cars, and applauded as gymnasts flipped past.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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