Parade

Hadley Memorial Day Parade -

Schedule:


 * GS TIPS** from Barbara and Jean…5/20/12 bp-jbb updated 5/8/17

The entire event, cemeteries and parade and hotdogs at the end, are a wonderful experience. We have a fabulous service unit in Hadley and it would be great if all/most of the scouts were to march. Many of our girls are busy and in multiple groups, ie Marching Band or family businesses, and we can’t expect our numbers to be 100%, but lets try.

12:15 The 2 cemetery parades – the bus leaves the Legion around 12:15 and goes to Holy Rosary and North Hadley, and returns to the Legion a bit before 2pm. Adults go on the bus with the girls. Bring cut garden flowers for the girls to put on the veterans graves in North Hadley – a special nice thing. 1:45. Gather at Legion for the Route 9 Ceremony and Parade 2:20ish: Ceremony on West Street by Hooker monument. 2:45ish: Buses or families pick up and return to the Legion for hogdogs and community kudos.
 * THE PARADE** includes several parts.

ALL GIRLS are encouraged to do the whole thing. We have had all ages do all parades successfully.
 * Who does which parade?**


 * Younger Girls.** The ride to the cemeteries and walking in parade makes a full day for the young, young girls. Particularly if it is hot. Young troops may want to consider only doing the Route 9 Parade. Having said that, the cemetery experience is VERY special and really should include all troops. Use your judgement.

We encourage the girls to march with Girl Scouts because it is part of our PROMISE “to do my duty to … my country.” If a girl decides to march with another group, she should make that choice before the Route 9 Parade begins, and not switch in the middle.
 * MARCHING with OTHER GROUPS**

Bus transportation is being provided! for the trip back to the Legion from West Street. Families may pick up girls at West Street; however, girls may not leave their troop until a designated family person receives the girl. Some groups may walk back to the Legion on the bike path. ....make CLEAR arrangements with families for pick-up. Remember – all are welcomed back to the Legion for hot dog and chips.
 * PICK-UP**

Recommendations - Troop members should wear the same color top. Troop 33 wore red the last couple years. It looked nice. And the scouts should be wearing their sashes/vests.
 * UNIFORMS**

Girls might want to wear hats as the sun can be unforgiving while walking down Route 9. Definitely wear sun screen! Wear appropriate shoes. Flip flops are usually a bad idea.
 * HATS, SUNSCREEN, SHOES**

Must meet the STRICT requirements in GS Safety Checkpoints.
 * WAGONS and FLOATS**

Tr. 33 decorates a little wagon each year with a cooler in it with water bottles for girls at the end of the parade.
 * BONUS IDEAS**

There are only TWO ladies bathrooms at the Legion. Recommend that girls use the bathroom before getting dropped off at the Legion. There are no bathroom options once we leave the Legion either to the cemeteries or on the parade route. Plan accordingly.
 * RESTROOMS**

At the end of the parade on the common, scouts are supposed to stay until the final band and Legion ceremony is complete. Folks are often disrespectful of this for a variety of reasons. The problem is that the girl scouts are some of the first marchers in the parade, and once we get to the commons, there are still a lot of parade floats and marchers to come behind us, and this means vehicles and people are everywhere. We need to be clear about where the scouts need to stand and wait. Also be clear to the scouts about being quiet and respectful during the ceremony. It is chaotic and does not need to be if all leaders are clear about where we should be and what is going on.
 * THE END ON WEST STREET**
 * The end of the parade can be VERY CONFUSING.**
 * THERE IS NO PLAN. The Girl Scouts are the most organized ones there (besides the band).**
 * There IS A BUS to take the girls to the early cemeteries.**
 * Once the ceremony is COMPLETE, girl scouts should take the bus back to the Legion or be released to their parents.** **Please check in with each other about this.**

FLAGS AND BANNERS & ORDER of Parade
 * (Jean brings the flags and banner to the bus, and a leader takes charge of them from there…)**
 * 1. FLAGS COME FIRST in our Girl Scout group.**
 * then a “space”**
 * 2. BANNER COMES NEXT**
 * (We rotate this responsibility – in an ad hoc way on the spot, so that most girls get a chance at each.)**
 * then a “space”**
 * 3. TROOPS come next, in whatever “order” and organized disarray we may be.**

FLAGS **We share flag and color guard duty.**
 * OLDER GIRLS usually carry the flags and are color guard during the first two parades at Holy Rosary and North Hadley cemeteries (and get a brush-up on protocol).**
 * JUNIOR Girl Scouts usually do FLAG and Color Guard during the Route 9 parade.**

HADLEY BANNER **is usually carried by Brownies**

LEADERSHIP
 * The LEADERS usually walk along the sides of the group, and provide guidance to the older girls and their individual troops.**
 * The OLDER GIRLS are usually encouraged to be “in charge” of keeping the flag rotations going, and showing leadership models for the younger girls.**
 * Try to keep the group centered on the yellow lines down the middle of the road.**
 * Older girls can be encouraged to be somewhat dignified and in time with the music.**
 * Younger girls can be encouraged to be respectful and stay in an “organized” pack.**

TROOP BANNER IDEA
 * Troop 33 purchased a Troop banner in 2011 for several reasons. From Staples -- it is 2' x 3' or 4' something line that, about $60 and we picked it up the same day. It simply says:**
 * Girl Scouts**
 * Troop 33**
 * Hadley MA**
 * It includes a picture, and the troop uses it during cookie sales, parades, and other events to advertise who we are. It might go to Washington too. Over the course of ten years, we thought it was a good investment. If you get one, make sure it has at least 3 grommets to hang on a pole or curtain rod.**

HAVE A WONDERFUL time! A nice cool, partly cloudy day is what to wish for!**