Parade participants weren’t shy about showing how much fun they were having.
Reminder Publishing photo by Chris Maza
EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow continued its tradition of ringing in the Fourth of July with a parade, attracting participants and spectators from throughout the area and beyond. The route, extending more than a mile and a half, began on Maple Street neat the high school to the rotary before continuing onto North Main Street, Mapleshade Avenue and Elm Street. Before the parade, the Fourth of July Freedom Four Miler road race took place with a large portion of the event taking place on the parade course with streets lined with spectators.
Meghan Maza, 8, of Springfield grabs some shade under an umbrella while waiting for the parade to begin. 
Children armed with squirt guns cool off runners on Mapleshade Avenue during the Freedom Four Miler road race that took place before the parade. 
Decendants of Joseph and Ruth Scully (on the poster to the left) celebrate the Fourth of July, continuing a tradition that has been ongoing since 1954. Ten direct descendents representing four generations were decked out in matching patriotic shirts. 
Emerson, 4, and Teddy, 3, beat the heat with snowcones before the start of the parade. 
Sebastian Jones, 9, of East Longmeadow, waves an American Flag along the parade route. 
Jaime Thayer-Awoniyi and Aubriella, 3, await the parade. 
Myles Bergeron, 10, of Springfield shows off his patriotism. 
The East Longmeadow Police Department leads the parade down Mapleshade Avenue. 
Members of the Springfield Kiltie Band perform. 
Shaker Pines Fire Department personnel show off its UTV 53. 
A young man gives a wave from a Springfield fire engine. 
The Yankee Doodle Band leads the parade’s military unit. 
The Yankee Doodle Band leads the parade’s military unit. 
Musket in hand, a patriot makes his way down the parade route. 
Members of American Legion Post 293 greet the crowd. 
The color guard leads the Civil Air Patrol. 
The Civil Air Patrol marches down Mapleshade Avenue. 
The U. S. Air Force color guard makes its way down the parade route. 
An airman plays a patriotic tune on the trumpet. 
Emily Paseos, recipient of the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s National Scoutling Leadership Award, rides in style. 
A member of the Westover Young Marines program marches in formation. 
Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart enjoy their ride down the parade route. 
A member of the Civil Air Patrol carries a POW flag. 
Parade Marshal George Kingston greets parade-goers. 
East Longmeadow Town Manager Tom Christensen was all smiles. 
Former East Longmeadow Town Councilor Marilyn Richards, left, gets a lift in a decorated golf cart. Richards recently retired after 40 years in East Longmeadow town government. 
Lenox’s float marks America’s 250th birthday with a cake. 
Members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office’s motorcycle unit lead the way for the department. 
Left to right: State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi wave to those along the parade route. 
A member of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office’s Mounted Unit waves hello. 
A truck is decked out with a stars and stripes paint job. 
A parade participant keeps onlookers cool with her water gun. 
Harlee Van Aller, 9, of Ludlow and Hailey Hoffman, 8, of Wilbraham react to getting sprayed with a water gun from a parade float. 
The East Longmeadow Historical Society had the 1976 time capsule on display along with a sign encouraging people to attend an Aug. 6 contents reveal. 
The East Longmeadow Historical Society used the parade as an opportunity to ask citizens to contribute to the new time capsule being buried later this month. 
East Longmeadow Lions Distinguished Citizen of the Year Kelly Phillips gives a wave. 
Two youngsters get a ride in the shade during what was a hot day for a parade. 
The Cutler brothers, Bennett, 6, and Grant, 4, of Wilbraham, share a chair during the parade. 
The Polish American String Band from Philadelphia marches down Mapleshade Avenue. 
A member of the Polish American String Band from Philadelphia plays the saxophone. 
A member of the Polish American String Band from Philadelphia strums his banjo. 
Allura, Christian and Delon, all of Springfield, enjoy the parade. 
The Springfield Lodge of Elks 61 pops the confetti as its award-winning float makes it way down the parade route. 
A member of Springfield Lodge of Elks 61 shows of their first place trophy. 
A Maybury truck hauls a giant cake to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. 
Dressed like the Statue of Liberty, a parade participant gets the crowd feeling patriotic. 
Members of the East Longmeadow girls lacrosse program toss candy to waiting kids. 
Members of East Longmedow Youth Softball cruise down the parade route. 
Members of East Longmeadow Youth Baseball show off the their own brand of patriotic and cool. 
Members of East Longmeadow Youth Baseball show their enthusiasm. 
Clara Stearns, 4, of Berlin, Germany, claps as she enjoys the parade. Originally from East Longmeadow, her family returns to the states every year for the parade. 
A member of PFLAG East Longmeadow carries the Pride Progress Flag. 
The East Longmeadow Youth Football program marches down the parade route. 
The Windsor Fife and Drum Corps makes its way down Mapleshade Avenue. 
A member of the Windsor Fife and Drum Corps is all smiles as he pounds his drum. 
Youngsters give a thumbs up from atop a truck. 
A member of National Ambulance gives a thumbs up while waving an American flag. 
East Meadow Enterprises brought out its heavy machinery for the parade. 
Parade-goers pet one of the horses from Hacienda Oasis 
Horses from Hacienda Oasis trot down the parade route. 
A parade-goer on a scooter expresses his excitement as he whizzes by. 
The Kelly-Fradet Lumber mini car zooms past the crowd. 
Jeannie’s Weenies was a crowd favorite. 
Boomer, the Springfield Thunderbirds mascot, get the crowd riled up. 
Boomer, the Springfield Thunderbirds mascot pulls a U-turn during the parade. 
Maple Dental Associates had beads for parade-goers and was eager to share. 
From atop a Scags Enterprise truck, a girl makes sure we know the alien comes in peace. 
A pair enjoy a ride atop a Scags Enterprise truck. 
A member of Star Dance Studio waves to the crowd. 
A park ranger in full gear marches down the sunny street. 
Miss Pioneer Valley Ashley Terron waves a flag while greeting the crowd. 
A member of the Great American Marching Band plays the trumpet. 
A member of the Great American Marching Band plays the tuba. 
Freemasons from The Meadows Lodge AF & AM in East Longmeadow wave to the crowd. 
Springfield colleen Anna O’ Toole waves from her court’s float. 
Mychal Connolly of Stand Out Truck smiles as he maneuvers down the parade route. 
Members of the Oompa Meisters perform. 
A member of the CJ’s Towing team flashes a peace sign while driving by. 
: A member of Hampden County Hexenbrut performs. 
A vintage police car keeps everyone in line. 
Members of Ed’s Tree Service catch a ride. 
Melha Shriners cruise down the parade route in a jeep. 
A Melha bagpiper plays a tune. 
A Melha Shriners clown sports a mini-motorcycle. 
A Melha rider sports a unique and festive Fourth of July look. 
The Melha Shriners show off their skills on the ramp truck. 
Melha Shriner mini-cars zoom past parade-goers. 
he Melha Shriners show off their skills on the ramp truck.
