Don Canney

I can remember when going to a parade as a kid was a big deal. It was something we looked forward to. Parades were held in Nashua for most of the major patriotic holidays; Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Fourth of July, and I think I can remember a Labor Day event or two. It didn’t have to be a three-hour spectacular, like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Just a 30-minute or so show to celebrate the holiday typically sufficed, although, Nashua has seen its hour-long plus parades during centennial celebrations.

Back in the day, we kids would look forward to parades. As many of the major streets were blocked off, some Dads would struggle to find an available parking spot. We lived downtown, so it was a quick walk for us. We would hustle, pulling our parents along in tow, to get a “good seat” (aka, the curb). We would wait in anticipation, while off in the distance, we could hear the marching bands approaching, fire engine and police car sirens wailing, and the smell of popcorn or other tasty treats wafting in the air. We would stretch our necks as far forward as possible, trying not to fall into the street, where police officers were watching to make sure we stayed back and away from the oncoming marchers.

At that time, parades would draw throngs of Nashuans to watch high school bands, antique cars, military vehicles, marching soldiers, fire trucks, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local dignitaries and just about any candidate running for office at the time. Those in passing cars might throw a piece of candy or two to awaiting kids trying to catch them in mid-air. Remember the popcorn man at the corner of West Hollis and Main Streets, near City Hall? I can still smell that fresh popcorn and see the puddle of butter at the bottom of the bag. Nothing low fat or low sodium.

Then there was the booming scare of the twenty-one-gun salute, conducted by three soldiers firing seven times each in unison, a ceremony that was often held at the Main Street bridge to honor those lost at war. The commander would shout, “Ready, aim, fire,” after each round. After the first round, we learned to cover our ears in anticipation of the next.

There would typically be several vendors scurrying up and down Main Street hawking everything from balloons to dolls to a sundry of trinkets, which were often shunned by parents as being overpriced junk. They were, but it did not appear that way to us kids. So, it didn’t stop us from haunting Mom or Dad to buy us something from the cart.

The show tune “I Love a Parade” by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler sums up the feeling we often had as kids:

“I love a parade, the trampling of feet, I love every beat, I hear of a drum. I love a parade, when I hear a beat, I just wanna stand and cheer as they come.”

Sadly, parades today just do not seem to strike the interest they did back in the 60’s and 70’s. In fact, there seems to be fewer and fewer.

An April 5, 1967, edition of the Nashua Telegraph depicts a photo of a Memorial Day Parade committee, planning the days events. It was not unusual for publication of the “general orders for the day,” with an hour-by-hour accounting of the activities planned. Services would take place at Edgewood Cemetery, Soldier’s Monument, Deschenes Oval, the Main Street Bridge and Woodlawn Cemetery, with a viewing stand established at City Hall, where the Mayor, city officials, Gold Star Mothers and invited guests would gather.

Why don’t we bring back the pageantry and fun of parades? There is no harm in honoring those who proudly served our country while enjoying patriotic music and having some family fun at the same time.

Listen closely. Can you hear the distant beat of drums, trudging feet, wailing sirens, and marching bands playing in step? Better work your way up front onto the curb so you can get a better view. And I’ll take two bags of that delicious popcorn please!

Don Canney is a freelance writer and professional voice artist. He was born and raised in downtown Nashua with great interest in Nashua history circa 1950-1970. He now resides in Litchfield.