Bel Air Independence Day Committee Recognizes Parade’s Best High School Band, Best Float

From the Bel Air Independence Day Committee:

The Bel Air Independence Day Committee recently recognized the C. Milton Wright High School Marching Band, winner of the Harford County High School July 4th Parade award, and St. John the Evangelist School, which produced the parade’s best float.

Representatives from both groups accepted a monetary prize and the thanks of the committee at Bel Air Town Hall on Wednesday, July 27. Members of the C. Milton Wright High School Marching Band also retained for a second straight year the Harford County High School July 4th Parade Trophy, recognizing the parade’s best local high school band.

“The idea behind the Harford County High School July 4th Parade award, which we started 3 years ago, is to reward the effort and organization it takes for a local high school to put a marching band together in the middle of the summer, when school’s not in session and the seniors have all disappeared,” said parade chairman Michael Blum. “It is my dream, of course, to have a parade that includes a band from EVERY high school in Harford—we haven’t reached that point yet, but I haven’t given up hope!”

St. John the Evangelist School of Hydes, Md. won the approval of the parade’s judges with its creative float which was selected from among 22 other entrants.

“Floats make a parade, and I’m sure we all have watched the Tournament of Roses or Orange Bowl or Macy’s parades on TV, which feature huge, professionally-created (and extremely expensive) floats. Here in Bel Air we come from a different angle, and so it’s wonderful that groups, schools, churches and similar organizations still find the volunteers, time and resources to plan, build, decorate and drive floats in our patriotic event,” Blum said. “The Bel Air Independence Day Committee thinks it’s important to reward the best of the floats not only with a plaque, but also with a tangible, cash indication of our respect and thanks for their efforts and ingenuity!”

It’s not too early to sign up to be a part of the 2012 parade, the theme for which will be “The Land of the Free!” Applications are now online at the committee’s Web site, www.belairjuly4.org.

C. Milton Wright High School Band members, parents and staff, receiving trophy (from left):

First Row: Michael Blum (Bel Air Independence Day Committee Parade Chairman), Tom Fowler, Michael Natoli, John Kiebler, Austin Boroshok, Ashley Crowl, Mauricio Tassano, Braeden Travers, Alicia Crowl, Tracy Kiebler, Mary Lynn Twentey (C. Milton Wright Band Director).

Second Row: Mark Fowler, Kelly Murray, Kinsey Mannion, Claire Mannion, Tori Odom, Ryan Brown, Doug Thier.

Third Row: Stacey Crowl, Adriana Tassano, Phyllis Fowler, Lisa Brown, Theresa Travers, Jeanne Mannion, Mary Beth Thier, Ken Thier, Sara Boroshok, James Natoli.

St. John the Evangelist School parents and administrators receiving prize, from left:

From left: Michael Blum (Bel Air Independence Day Committee Parade Chairman), Michelle Carrigan, Cameron Carrigan, Haley Wehberg, Kayla Wehberg, Andrew Wehberg, Anna Wehberg, Chase Wehberg.