SOUTHWICK — It’s still early, but the town is getting prepared to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial, which the Select Board discussed briefly at its meeting on Jan. 26.
“So we wanted to invite you here to inform us if you have any plans in the works for the 250th anniversary of the country; what those might be, when they might be being planned, and see if we can coordinate, facilitate or help you with that,” said Select Board Chair Diane Gale during the meeting.
While the Historical Commission’s Russ Fox didn’t attend the meeting, Select Board member Douglas Moglin said the commission is planning to have several events that will coincide with Aug. 15, which is when the town’s annual summer fireworks show will be held.
Coordinated by the Southwick Civic Fund, its president Joseph Deedy said on Jan. 27 that plans are underway to have a couple of rides for children on that Saturday, food trucks and a live band in addition to the fireworks.
“We’re also planning some form of the Fireman’s Parade that was held for decades,” Deedy said.
Last year, there was talk of trying to hold a Fireman’s Carnival, but Deedy said there’s “just no funding for that.”
Moglin also said there are plans to have some Revolutionary War reenactors at the Aug. 15 fireworks show, and for Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
He then announced that he was going to include an article on the warrant for the May Town Meeting to create a revolving account for flags that would be flown on lampposts throughout town with the names and faces of Southwick military veterans.
“I would like to kick off that program to hopefully maybe have some things set up to have them on display for August, but definitely for November,” Moglin said.
Board member Diane Gale said the town should use its website to promote events.
“That way we can help promote everything that’s going on in town, regardless of who’s doing it,” she said.
Public Library Director Lynn Blair said her staff has already made plans for several events.
She said that in April, a park ranger from the Springfield Armory will have a presentation about the Continental Arsenal.
Local historian Dennis Picard will be at the library in July for a presentation on local patriots. Picard had been a museum professional in the “Living History” field for over 30 years. He spent over a decade at Old Sturbridge Village, filling various positions, including “lead interpreter.”
In August, the library will host a speaker to Mercy Otis Warren, an American activist poet, playwright and pamphleteer during the American Revolution. During the years before the Revolution, she had published poems and plays that attacked royal authority in Massachusetts and urged colonists to resist British infringements on colonial rights and liberties, according to Wikipedia.
Blair said the library will use those events to promote the library’s resources, like assisting residents with genealogy and finding ancestors with connections to the Revolution.
“We’re also willing to help promote any other organizations, events, and we’d be happy to share any posters to spread the word,” she said.
As the discussion wound down, Gale suggested that the board invite other groups to a meeting to see what else may be in the planning stages so the town can coordinate with them.
