http://thenewsherald.com/stories/04...050420011.shtml

Annual parade looks for help

By Jason Alley, The News-Herald


PUBLISHED: April 20, 2005 LINCOLN PARK — For a buck, organizers say, you can help the city's annual Memorial Day parade stay the same as it's been for years, with bands, entertainment and floats.

Without the extra money, they say, this year's parade is set to be the smallest one ever, with possibly only one band performing.


Because of a decrease in donations and an increase in money bands are asking for to perform, this year's parade is "really hurting," said organizer Virginia Mondon.

"I know things are tough," she said. "They're tough everywhere. But this is a part of your history. If we let this go, we've really let down a lot of people."

So now she's asking residents to donate $1 each to ensure the parade keeps going strong.

"Certainly more would be great, but if each person donated a dollar, we'd have enough to keep the tradition going," she said.

In years past, Mondon said, bands have come in from as far as White Lake, Plymouth and Canada. Because of rising gas costs, she said, bands are asking for more money — money that parade organizers don't have this year.

"I can certainly see why they are asking for more money," she said. "Some of their traveling expenses are quite high. We just don't have the money to pay them."

Area high school bands are asked each year to participate, but most don't, Mondon said. The only one to sign up so far this year is Lincoln Park High School. About 75,000 people come out for the annual parade.

"We are going to hold the parade, if only for one band," Mondon said. "But it would be a sin to drop down to that from what we've had."

Unlike other communities where parades are paid for with city money, Lincoln Park's is paid for by private donations.

An annual bowling fund-raiser and direct pleas to businesses usually raises the estimated $8,000 needed each year to put on the parade. Just over half that has been collected so far this year, Mondon said.

"No floats have been ordered this year and the entertainment and the clowns, we likely won't have," she said. "But hopefully people will remember how great our parade is and want to help out to make sure it stays like it's been."

Matt Werling, vice-president of the city's Community Patrol Watch, was one of the first to donate last week when he heard about the hardship.

"A buck is a buck," he said. "If everyone did chip in a dollar, especially in memory of a veteran … this parade could easily be saved." A collection jug is inside City Hall, 1355 Southfield. Dollars also can be mailed to Mondon at 2059 Keppen, Lincoln Park, MI 48146. Checks should be made payable to the Lincoln Park Memorial Day Parade. For more information, call 1-313-383-3151.

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Time is the fire in which we burn.

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hi,
the exchange club voted to order 15 boxes of 144 flags today. giveakidaflagtowave has been a part of this parade. hope to see ya there, look for me on my ice cream bike passsing out these flags.
,
bicycledon

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DonnaBird (04-22-05)

Flags are nice, but the Parade needs Cash, cold hard CASH.

Without the Cash, there will be no Parade and with no Parade there will be no Flags to hand out.

People, time to prove you love Lincoln Park. Donate to the Parade. Everyone can afford a dollar.

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Councilman Mario DiSanto, A better man for a better Lincoln Park

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Mr. Magoo, next time you see your dear friend Virg Mondon give her a couple extra bucks for me. Next time I see ya I'll pay you back...honest.

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I certainly have no love for Virginia Mondon, but I do have respect for tradition. LP should have a Memorial Day Parade to honor those Lincoln Parkers who sacraficed their life for us.

We do not need a bunch of marching bands. The LPHS and the River Rouge High School marching bands are more than enough.

Get as much community involvement as possible. We do not need people from Sarnia marching in the parade if we cannot afford it.

And Rail1, I will give Ms Mondon an extra couple of bucks from you, I know I will never see it again, but I will donate it to the soldiers/sailors of LP who never came back.

___________________________________________
Councilman Mario DiSanto, A better man for a better Lincoln Park

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rail1 (04-21-05)

Magoo, You are right that there needs to be community involvement. The Flags are just one type of involvement. I have included pics of last years parade. These are pics of people watching the parade and one thing that they all have in common is they are holding flags! The parade needs help in the form of cash and involvement. I can tell you it is a blast to be in the parade and the kids really enjoy being in the parde. My grandkids love to ride the bikes in the parade and they love handing out the flags too! If more groups sign up to be in the parade and if they have to cut down on the participants that they need to pay then the parade will still be big and a success for the people watching. Remember what the parade is about people, paying tribute and honoring those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Help the parade out, give your dollar, come and wave your flag, show your smile for the freedoms that we have in our country.

	parade1.jpg (57.7 KB, 1 views)
	parade2.jpg (53.3 KB, 0 views)
	parade3.jpg (42.0 KB, 0 views)
	parade4.jpg (86.2 KB, 0 views)

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DonnaBird (04-22-05)

Awww! I love Elmo!! He's such a cutie!!

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The declaration that our People are hostile to a government made by themselves, for themselves, and conducted by themselves, is an insult.
Author: John Quincy Adams
Source: in an address to the citizens of Westmoreland County, Virginia

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bicycledeb: I for one am more interested in the people attending the parade. It most certainly be a family event as well as a community event.

The parade is nothing more than to give us a sense of pride.

We do not have to rival the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I do wish more people would attend the memorial services before the parade. It is only 30 minutes and is before the parade.

It would be nice to pass out little flags to the people who attend this service at the bandshell.

___________________________________________
Councilman Mario DiSanto, A better man for a better Lincoln Park

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I always go to the parade last year my kids were in the parade I really enjoyed participating. My youngest son went to the crowley center and we threw candy as we walked with our float, as a matter of fact we were ahead of bycycle deb and don, I will definelty be going again this year.

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Again you are right Magoo, people need to attend the parade, but if there is nothing to see, people won't come to watch. As you can see my photos were of people watching the parade. Since we are in the parade I don't really get photos of the parade itself. It would be a good idea to pass out flags at the service. I can bring this up and we can see what happens. Until I was participating in the parade, I didn't know there was a service. I think there needs to be more information out there that tells people what is going on that day.
The parade makes everyone smile. Hopefully there is a sence of pride for those participating as well as watching.
I remember the little ones tossing the candy. The little ones are alway a joy to watch as they wave to the crowd. The young kids that ride with us are always in awe of the parade and feel real special when the people watching are waving at them.
Everyone should see the parade, it is great and those who can participate would enjoy the experience.
As far as helping with a donation, there are many of us who donate our time, our work, even our products for many many things in the city, what would be so bad to donate some dollars for a parade where so may get so much out of it.
I may have impartial feelings because I enjoy the parade so much, but there seems to be less and less for families to do together that doesn't cost so much, a few bucks for a great afternoon for the family is priceless.

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