Cyclists add horsepower to parade

Firefighters, veterans two-wheel into town to join traditional lineup

By George Barnes, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

July 5, 2008

PETERSHAM — The roar and thunder of motorcycles was added this year to the canter of horses as members of two motorcycle groups joined others in the 11th Petersham Fourth of July parade.

The motorcyclists included members of the Red Knights firefighter motorcycle club and the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcyclists, mostly veterans, who regularly attend funerals of fallen American soldiers.

Robert Laford, deputy fire chief in Petersham and a member of the Red Knights, said one member of his group took part in the parade in its early years, but this year more than a dozen Red Knights and Patriot Guard Riders decided to take part.

The motorcyclists helped lead the parade around the “Old Maids o’ Mile March,” a rectangle made up of West Street, Hardwick Road, Spring Street and South Main Street. They were followed by all sorts of traditional and nontraditional marchers, from a military color guard to a woman dressed as a Christmas tree and a man dressed as a horse.

This year’s honorary parade marshal was Richard Nickless, retired town moderator. After the parade, he read the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. He then offered up some thoughts on government, including a quote from a speech given by President Calvin Coolidge on July 5, 1926, reflecting on the inspiration of the Declaration of Independence.

“Governments do not make ideals,” he said. “Ideals make governments.”

Also in the parade, Petersham resident Gabe Patriquin was dressed as Uncle Sam, and Jessica Berube was Miss Liberty. Ms. Berube has been Miss Liberty in the parade 10 of the 11 years it’s been held.

Beth Cummings co-founded the parade with the late Delight Haines to give their grandchildren a better understanding of the meaning of the holiday. She organized it again this year, and seemed relieved when it was done.

“The rain held off,” she said. “I can’t ask for more.”

With plenty of rain falling before the event and an uncertain weather forecast, the only thing marchers had to contend with were a few puddles and a little bit of water falling from the trees.

The parade has always had a large contingent of horses and this year was no exception, with about a dozen horses and riders taking part. There were horse-drawn carriages and a four-wheeler following behind to pick up any mess the horses made.

The Fire Department also turned out some of its new equipment, as well as a couple of classic 1929 Petersham firetrucks. Gilbert King Jr. drove one of the trucks, and Chief Dana Robinson was at the wheel of the other truck.

There also were members of the Margery Morton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Darcy Canu of Phillipston, one of the DAR members, said her family connection is Zebediah Allen of Barre.

For sheer oddity, Pepco International had Santa driving a convertible, and there were various other elves and a marching Christmas tree.

There also was a golf cart with a large bell mounted on it and a sign, “Let Freedom Ring,” and various antique and classic cars.

State Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, and her opponent in this year’s election, Stephen J. Comtois II of Brookfield, also were in the parade. Mr. Comtois walked the parade, handing out candy alongside a truck with his signs on it. Ms. Gobi rode her Yamaha C3 motor scooter. When the parade was finished, Ms. Gobi rode the scooter to Templeton, where she was among 25 readers of the Declaration of Independence.