From the Bel Air Independence Day Committee:
Bel Air, Maryland: The July 4th, 2015, Independence Day events in Bel Air, Maryland, offered fun, patriotic splendor, and educational interest to citizens of the entire region, all during a day that featured heavy rains in the morning, but nice and dry conditions for the parade and fireworks.
Tens of thousands of citizens from the greater Bel Air area, across Harford County, and even beyond, participated and enjoyed the traditional small-town events on Saturday, July 4th, 2015, culminating with the annual parade and fireworks display. The theme for the day was “An “Olde-Fashioned Fourth of July.”
Events got underway at 6:45 am at Bel Air High School with the flag raising ceremony, featuring Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30 and American Legion Bel Air Post 39, assisted by bugler Robert Hudson. The National Anthem was sung by Miss Bel Air 2015 Shanice Lewis. Ms. Lewis also sang the National Anthem at three other venues during the day: at Rockfield Park to start the Horseshoe Pitching contest; at Shamrock Park to start the family and children’s events; and at Bel Air Elementary School to start the Bicycle Rodeo.
The traditional pancake and sausage breakfast was held at Bel Air High School, in which 1,858 adults and children partook of the pancakes, blueberry pancakes, juice and sausages cooked and prepared by over 50 volunteers from the Bel Air Lions, under the direction of Harold Boccia.
During the morning, the Hays House was open to visitors, and offered guided tours of the historic facility. All guests enjoyed the historical music played by Catherine Street Consort.
In the week leading up to July 4th, the Bel Air Independence Day Committee distributed 20,000 free programs listing all events and containing useful information about the 4th of July in Bel Air. The program’s front cover illustration was chosen by a contest open to all Harford County students. The winning design was submitted by Lilly Kuemmel of Bel Air, a student at Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School. The official program was designed and produced by Michael Blum.
A full roster of daytime competitive events were held at various locations in the Town of Bel Air. Due to heavy rains at times during morning, several events were moved from their designated locations to under the band shell overhang in Shamrock Park. As a result of the weather, some of the winners’ names were lost or the sheets on which they were written were destroyed by the rain. The Independence Day Committee apologizes for this. The results that were recovered were as follows:
Horseshoe Pitching (Rockfield Park): 69 participants
Women’s Singles:
1st Place: Vicki Smith of Darlington
2nd Place: Kim Panzer of Parkville
Women’s Doubles:
1st Place: Velma Schleicher and Bonnie Schleicher of Bel Air
2nd Place: Vicki Smith and Bre Smith of Darlington
Men’s Singles:
1st Place: Ricky Morrison of Street
2nd Place Chris Raab of Bel Air
Men’s Doubles:
1st Place: Mark Miller and Colin Miller of Bel Air
2nd Place: James Stewart of Baltimore and John Harr of Myrtle
Beach, SC
Turtle Derby (Shamrock Park): 98 turtles were registered
1st Place, Box Turtles: Ashlyn Davis (owner) of Edgewood
1st Place, Aquatic Turtles: Kyle Basco of Bel Air (and his turtle, Louie)
Frog Jumping (Shamrock Park): 130 frogs were registered
1st Place: Cade Walker (owner)
2nd Place: Luke Dippel (owner)
3rd Place: Korynn Sim (owner)
Bicycle Rodeo (Bel Air Elementary School): 35 children participated and trophies were given in several age groups, but all results were lost.
Uncle Sam Says (Shamrock Park):
Ages 5-7:
1st Place: George Scott, Jr., from Bel Air
2nd Place: Sienna Klima from Forest Hill
3rd Place: Ava Whitney, Arnold, Maryland
Ages 8-10:
1st Place: Hailey Autry from Joppa
2nd Place: Elon Nolan from Bel Air
3rd Place: Annabel Everett from Bel Air
Ages 11-13:
1st Place: D’Montae Vilgrain from Columbia, MD
2nd Place: Rachel Kennedy from Bel Air
3rd Place: Chris Kennedy from Bel Air
Ages 14+:
1st Place: Sandrine Goodey from Parkville, MD
2nd Place: Daini Suaib from Silver Spring, MD
3rd Place: Victoria Manzo from Bel Air
Watermelon Eating Contest (Shamrock Park):
Ages 6 and under:
1st Place: Rowen Liles from Bel Air
2nd Place: Davy Mudrick from Forest Hill
3rd Place: Grayson Stump from Bel Air
Ages 7-10:
1st Place: Luke Dennis from Fallston
2nd Place: Malaki Meadows from Fawn Grove, PA
3rd Place: Elon Nolan from Bel Air
Ages 11-16:
1st Place: Gracyn Meisz from Street
2nd Place: Jack Dennis from Fallston
3rd Place: Israel Nolan from Bel Air
Ages 17+:
1st Place: Jeffrey Campbell from Bel Air
2nd Place: Jimmy Hoyt from Bel Air
3rd Place: Brooks Parsons from Bel Air
After a recess for the afternoon, during which the rain finally stopped, the traditional parade began at 6:00 pm at the intersection of South Main Street and Idlewild Avenue on the south side of Bel Air — the first time the parade had ever started from that point, which was previously the ENDING point. The parade was greeted with approval by an estimated crowd of 45,000 spectators, who lined the parade route all the way to North Main Street and Gordon Street!
“I thought it was one of the largest crowds we’ve ever had,” says Don Stewart, President of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee.”
Reviewing stand narration was provided by Don Morrison, helped by text messaging Parade Marshals Brent Cozby and Alex Krowzow.
Many of the parade units were sponsored by area businesses. Banners in the parade celebrating these sponsors were carried by members of the Fountain Green Swim Club, under the direction of David Williams. Parade sponsors included:
Balsamo, Stewart, Lutters & Ruth, CPAs
Buontempo Brothers/Tower Restaurant
Festival at Bel Air Shopping Center
HAR-CO Credit Union
Jarrettsville Federal Savings & Loan
Jones Junction Auto Dealerships
Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland
Plaza Ford
PNC Bank
TD Bank
Six independent Parade Judges viewed the parade, whose theme was “An Olde-Fashioned Fourth of July!”, and awarded the following prizes:
Floats:
1st place – Society of Italian American Businessmen
2nd place – Bel Air Lions Club
3rd place – Military Sacrifice Float
4th place – Harford Christian School
Equestrian Units:
1st place – America In Miniature
2nd place – Benchfield Farms
3rd place – Uncle Miltie’s Halflingers
The Harford County High School Trophy: C. Milton Wright School
Guest Bands:
1st place – Fusion Core Band
2nd place – Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps
3rd place – Skyliners Band
Antique Vehicles:
1st place – Smith Family
2nd place – 1962 Military Jeep Roy Clark
3rd place – 1914 Indian Motorcycle
Color Guard:
1st place – 20th CBRNE Command
2nd place – Bel Air Chapter 30 Disabled Veterans
3rd place – Harford County Detachment 1198, Marine Corps League
Mobile Units:
1st place – Alpha Omega 4×4 off Road Club
2nd place – Bel Air Corvette Club
3rd place – Md. State Police Alumni Association
4th place – Edible Arrangements
Marching Units:
1st place – Center for the Arts
2nd place – Cub Scout Pack 807
3rd place – Active Day
Emergency Services:
1st place – Joppa Magnolia VFC and Cadets
2nd place – Fawn Grove VFC
Comic/Novelty Acts:
1st place – Buontempo Brothers
2nd place – Ravens Nest #1 & the Hons
Most Unique Entry:
Michael Rosman’s Amazing Feats of Comedy and Circus Camp Stars!
Notable Persons:
Most Patriotic – Little Fire Chief – Andrew Deckard
Best Presentation – Miss MSFA Fire Prevention runner up Gabrielle Kerby
Most Popular with Crowd – Little Miss Fire Prevention Charlotte Denbow
Most Admired Entry – HCPS Teacher of the Year Mrs. Laura Potter
Judges Awards for Special Merit:
Baha’is of Bel Air
4H of Harford – Harford Stockyards
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company
John F. Nicoll Pipes and Drums
Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps
Bel Air Community Band
Titans Drum Corps
1932 Ford Dump Truck (Corbin Fuel)
The Baltimore All-Stars Drum & Majorette Corps
The parade ended at about 8:00 pm, and after a recess of about 90 minutes, the 2015 fireworks were shot off from Rockfield Park. Spectators lined the streets and filled permitted areas at Rockfield Manor, John Carroll School, the Bel Air Parking Garage, and many other venues.
Before the fireworks, the crowd at Rockfield Manor was serenaded by patriotic music, thanks to a donation by Sound System Sponsor First National Bank. The fireworks show began at 9:30 on the dot and lasted 23 minutes, ending with a “Finale” that featured several new “screamer” effects and high arching pyrotechnics. The display was greeted with cheers and applause by the large crowds.
For more information, please visit http://www.belairjuly4.org.
Always curious about the Bel Air parade. Just what is the criteria for deciding music group winners such as bands and guest bands? It’s not like they have real competition judges scoting the groups, so just how is the winner picked?
Seriously, you guys had the National Anthem sung before a Horseshoe Pitching Contest?!?! Wow….You might be a REDNECK if, you sing the National Anthem before a Horseshoe Pitching Contest.
….Wow, you might be a LOSER if you sit in your mother’s basement, smoking weed, rubbing one off thinking about Sean Marston.
Disregard my comment. I’m the loser.
Dude, I don’t know where you get that I’m sitting in my mother’s basement. You can goto SDAT and look up 1319 E. Patapsco Ave. in Baltimore City. You will plainly see that its owned by Jon Adam McCarty. That’s me. As for the Sean thing, GFY…….Arrest Sean Marston for perjury.
Come to think of it, he is an awful cute and petite little elf. Tell him to come over and I’ll give a free sample of some hair gel……
You know, I too would really love to know how they arrive at the parade winners. No one seems to know and no one will come on here and explain it.
I’ll say this, there was an awful lot of winners. That’s a long list….