Nation's oldest & largest Flag Day parade honors 'Old Glory' in its 57th year

   Flag Day parade travels along Hancock Street

Flag Day, June 14th, 2009 - Quincy, Massachusetts, nicknamed “Birthplace of the American Dream” is known for the largest and longest running Flag Day parade in the nation.  This year will mark the town’s 57th year and although Flag Day is not an official federal holiday - it’s at the President’s discretion to officially proclaim the observance - Americans stood proud and embraced the opportunity to honor 'Old Glory’ in patriotic, national holiday style keeping with President Barak Obama's decision to not only proclaim Flag Day a day of national observance, but issued a proclamation calling for a National Flag Week, commencing annually on June 14th.

For Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Flag Day is a particularly meaningful and emotional celebration since it was his father, the late Richard Koch, a World War II veteran and longtime park director for the city, who started the patriotic event back in 1952.

“Dad was a member of ‘the greatest generation,’ a World War II veteran who had a strong respect for the flag,” Koch said.  “He always tried to instill that respect for the flag, not only in his own children, but kids throughout Quincy.”

There were 2000 flag-waving youngsters from various youth organizations who marched in this year’s parade, and Koch attributed their enthusiastic participation to his father, who with contagious passion embodied the very definition of patriotism for his country and respect for its flag.
 

 Brig. General James McConville, Grand Marshall

This year’s  grand marshal was also a proud native of Quincy, Brigadier General James McConville, who just returned from a 15-month tour in Afghanistan.  McConville was in charge of support and civilian development with U.S. and NATO forces in the eastern provinces, and is the deputy commanding general at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division.  “It’s certainly a great honor to come back to the city where I was born and raised”, said McConville.

McConville, a 1981 West Point graduate, grew up in Quincy’s Merrymount section and earned his high school diploma at the Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree.
 

   Flag Day celebration at Pageant Field

The parade embarked at Coddington Street near Quincy High School around 7 p.m. and traveled down along Hancock Street, turning right onto the Merrymount Parkway just before arriving at it’s final destination in front of the entrance to Pageant Field.

The celebration went off with all the gallantry to be expected from the city with the oldest running Flag Day parade by raising a 30-by-60 foot American flag, a fly-over salute by the Air Wing of the Massachusetts State Police, a howitzer salute from the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 101st Field Artillery Unit, and a fireworks display that rivals Independence Day!  Thousands of onlookers lined the sidewalks to give praise and glory to the red, white, and blue - Bravo Quincy!  Applause.  Applause.

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Photo Credit Patriot Ledger