|
The Constitution Day Parade
(Sunday September 8, 2013)
Nevada City’s Constitution Day
Parade has been a local tradition since 1967 and is reported to be the
oldest and largest Constitution observance in western America. This 47th
Annual Constitution Day Parade tops a weekend of festivities. The 2 p.m.
Sunday parade features more than 100 entries and culminates other
activities including Revolutionary War Living History in Pioneer Park, the
Gold Country Duck Race on Deer Creek. The parade through the downtown
historic district includes marching bands, floats, antique autos,
equestrians, politicians and perennial crowd favorites such as the Ophir
Prison Marching Kazoo Band and the Famous Marching Presidents of Nevada
City, a humorous but reverent group that portrays each U.S. president..."We
the people, in order to honor and celebrate the Constitution of the United
States, form a near-perfect Marching Unit, establish Community Service,
insure domestic Knowledge of the Presidents, provide for the Common
Amusement, promote the general Respect, and secure the Blessings and
Awards of Constitution Day Parade Judges to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish the Famous Marching Presidents of Nevada City,
California."
Before the Parade began, anti-war protesters
descended down a closed-to-traffic Broad Street and were intercepted
Sunday by Nevada City police, who kept the unscheduled marchers from
interrupting the ceremonial re-enactment of the signing of the U.S.
Constitution that traditionally marks the beginning of the Constitution
Day Parade. After the annual signing ceremony was completed, the
protesters finished their march down Broad Street to the Highway 20/49
overpass, where at least 60 demonstrators waved signs and draped banners
off the bridge in opposition to a potential United States military strike
in Syria. “I’m opposed to this proposed bombing of Syria because I
don’t believe it is going to help the Syrian people and won’t stop the
proliferation or use of chemical weapons,” said Emanuel Sferios, founder
of the Grass Valley-based Occucards, which creates post-card sized protest
cards. Bless their hearts for protesting the never ending
destructive wars that have killed millions of people all over the world
for as long as I can remember.
The Nevada Union High School Choir sings the National
Anthem with the Color Guard in the background.
The Parade of Marching Presidents stop at the judges
stand, and Abe Lincoln gives The Gettysburg Address.
Crowd along Broad Street watching the parade.
A youthful Uncle Sam.
Masonic Grand Master John Lowe and his wife ride in
the parade.
Nevada County Tea Party - American Patriots banner,
followed by six youthful Freedom Rider motorcyclists revving their bikes,
flying American and "Don't Tread on Me" flags and banners affirming their
support for the United States Constitution.
A depiction of our Constitution in flames with a
plea, "Don't Burn Me," is a graphic reminder that it is up to "We" the
people to protect the Constitution, which alone guarantees the freedoms we
Americans may take for granted. Sue McGuire carries the sign and hands out
little booklets of the Constitution.
Despite his failing health, Uncle Sam arrived in a
wheelchair while receiving oxygen treatments from his attending physician.
Inquiring citizens were advised by his doctor that Uncle Sam had been
diagnosed with "politicalitis," which could only be cured by People
vigorously defending the Constitution. As Dr. Cheryl Heward pushes sickly
ol' Uncle Sam in his wheelchair, a lady spectator shouts, "I have some
Medical Marijuana you can use!" Uncle Sam feebly replies "Okay."
But then his doctor pushing him says that "All he needs is a good
constitution." Later, Uncle Sam could be overheard saying, "Not
so long ago, President Reagan rallied Americans, so maybe we can do it
again.
The NCTP float with one foot black letters stating,
"QUESTION AUTHORITY!" reminds us to question any given governmental action
and consider, "IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL?" In observing any governmental
action, consider, "Is it Constitutional?" If the answer is "No," what will
you do about it? Tea Party volunteers showed their patriotism by handing
out to the crowd over 100 pocket Constitutions with inserts encouraging
Americans to get to Know their Constitution and to "Question Authority!"
Are they upholding the laws they swear an oath to uphold, or are they
breaking them?
A member of the Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band & Temperance Society,
Ltd. plays the trombone with a duck on his hat.
The Shriners' Chinese Golden Dragon plays with the
crowd.
I think the Constitution Parade is a good reminder
of what America is all about. A lot of men died to establish our
Independence from the Aristocracy dictatorship Great Britain. We celebrate
that on July 4th. Following that accomplishment our Founders went to work
on the Constitution and it's Bill of Rights, but some people didn't think
all human beings deserved the same freedom and rights outlined in the
Constitution. Thousands more men died in the Civil war to eliminate human
slavery in the South.
Abraham Lincoln believed that slavery had to be checked because it was
an aristocratic institution contrary to the interests of the "plain
people." So of the Civil War he reasoned, "This is essentially a
peoples contest. On the side of the Union it is a struggle for maintaining
in the world that form and substance of government whose leading object is
to elevate the condition of men; to lift artificial weights from all
shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all
an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life."
While one critic of the Constitutional Day Parade in Nevada city felt
disgruntled concerning political activism instead of it being a parade for
kids and families to have fun, he seemed to forget that both the
Fourth of July and Constitutional Day celebrations remind us of where our
freedoms (and fun) we take for granted come from. As another person put it, "I
don’t get it. If a Constitution Day Parade isn’t the proper place to air
your political beliefs, when is? Isn’t having the ability to exercise our
Free Speech Rights as American as Apple Pie?"
Stand By Me
Ben E. King Lyrics
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me
Stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
All the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me
Stand by me
So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh stand by me, oh won't you stand now, stand
Stand by me
Stand by me
Back
|