The traditional red, white and blue street banner is carried by many of the regulars in the Lyon Village neighborhood. Photo by Shirley Ruhe.
Photo by Shirley Ruhe/The Connection
James Sullivan and his wife Neat, line up their model-T for the Lyon Village Fourth of July parade
“This goes back a long way. My grandfather, Colonel Brant, had been driving in these parades for many years. He died three years ago but in 2020 he drove one last time in this parade as the grand marshal. My dad, Richard Sullivan, usually drives one of our two model T’s in the parade, too, but he elected to have back surgery at 80-years-old and took longer to recover than he predicted. He’s sitting up the block in the yard watching today instead.”
The bicycles line up at the corner with sisters Ruth (6) and Lily (8) Britton at the head of the line. All the parade participants are waving flags and decked out in holiday gear from the red-sequined dress to the flag helmet and matching red striped dresses along with the dog sporting his patriotic kerchief.
The usual red, white and blue banner is unfurled across the street and held aloft by many of the regulars at the beginning of the parade. GJ Carten, a long-time participant, remembers the Lyon Village picnic started in 1972, and the parade was added in 1980.
As the children gather along the street, someone looks around, “Hey, where is the fire engine this year?” Just then the siren reverberates down Jackson Street and heads around the corner.
Matt MacPhail, equipped with his usual sound box mounted on his back, pushes the button to begin the traditional patriotic music, the official signal that the parade has begun.
Nancy Alikonis, who lives in the neighborhood, stands across the street amid a bevy of colorful holiday balloons. She says she has been coming to this parade for 38 years.
The parade is small at the beginning but as it progresses down the street, others including a dog, weave into the crowd block by block. “Use your brakes, honey. We have a long way to go.” The parade will conclude at Lyon Village Park where popsicles and bottles of water will be available along with games and activities for the kids.