Spirit Of Beacon Day Unites The Community

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(Beacon) - Last Sunday, the City of Beacon celebrated its annual “Spirit of Beacon Day.”
People started gathering along Main Street around 12:30 PM to reserve their spot for the parade, while others went straight to the center of town to partake in the festival food, face painting and other activities.
The parade officially kicked off Sunday’s celebration with various groups and organizations taking part in the march up the city’s main thoroughfare, Main Street. More than 30 groups participated.

The crowd saw local elected officials, political candidates, little league teams, schools, churches, and floats. They saw a vintage 1921 Ford Model T courtesy of the Glenham Slater Chemical Fire Company, big red fire engines (courtesy of the Beacon Fire Department) and youth organizations.

The groups marched past families that lined both sides of Main Street. Some were sitting on trunks of cars. Others brought portable chairs. The little one’s were pointing at the parade participants and eager to catch the candy which seemed to magically fall from the sky as the parade processional passed.

After the parade, several of the blocks along Main Street were closed to allow the festivities to continue. Stages were set up to allow local artists an opportunity to perform. Organizations, such as the Beacon City School District Board of Education, Beacon Sloop Club and the City of Beacon Commission on Human Relations, had booths’ set up along the street to hand out information on their respective organizations. Other groups, like the brother from Hebron Lodge #48, served up delicious food, while the fire department demonstrated safety techniques.

“The City of Beacon is very fortunate,” Mayor Clara Lou-Gould said. “The weather held up and we had one of the biggest turnouts that I believe we have ever had.” Gould was very pleased to see so many of the local residents out on Main Street enjoying the day.

Pictured Above From Left to Right: Natalia Perez, Mayor Gould, JuanCarlos Cruz, Jeanine Cruz, Jannera Cruz.