Families lined the streets Saturday night as the city came together for its 62nd annual Flag Day celebration. Spectators cheered as veterans, marching bands, and flag waving children paraded past the crowds.
Glimpses of the Boston Bruins colors, black and gold, often peaked through the sea of red, white, and blue as a sign of support for the team by the spectators who chose to attend the parade rather than watch the Bruins play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup.
In turn, those marching in the parade could often be heard shouting 'Go Bruins' in addition to patriotic slogans. Members of the crowd responded with applause or shouted similar sentiments. Many also sang the patriotic songs that the marching bands were performing.
After the parade from Quincy High School's location on Coddington Street to Pageant Field concluded, spectators and participants alike gathered in the field for a fireworks display and the hoisting of the flag.
The 30-by-60 foot American flag was hoisted between the ladders of two fire engines, and the fireworks would later go off in the distance behind the flag as it rippled in the wind, suspended by the two ladders.
'Veterans are fighting for that flag, defending that flag each and every day,' said Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, during a ceremony before the fireworks. 'That flag is the greatest symbol in the world representing freedom and democracy, and I think every American can make a connection to their flag.'
This year another symbol was also on full display at the parade. The 'Boston Strong' t-shirts that dotted the red, white, and blue audience served as a reminder that the celebration coincided with two month anniversary of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombing.
'After everything that Boston has gone through with the Marathon events, it's good to come out and salute the men and women who are defending our freedom overseas,' said spectator Stephen Warren.
In light of the Boston Marathon attack, the city broke with it's tradition of having one parade marshal, and selected a group of first responders from Quincy to lead the day's festivities.
'Each day they are out there protecting you and I,' Koch said. 'They respond to the call not knowing what they are going to find when they answer that call.'
Koch also noted that during the Boston Marathon events members of Quincy's first responders assisted their counterparts in Boston.
Representatives from the city's police and fire departments were also called upon to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance after the flag was raised.
In addition to Mayor Koch, United States Congressman Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., was also among the elected officials on hand for the event.
'Tonight, the city of Quincy is a shining example of what's best about America,' said Lynch to resounding applause.
During the ceremony, retiring Quincy High School Principal Frank Santoro was also honored. Santoro was awarded the Richard J. Koch Youth Service Award, named after the parade's founder and father of Mayor Thomas Koch, for his service to the Quincy school system.
'It gives me great honor to accept this award, especially on behalf of the youth of the city,' said Santoro.�
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH5NIBqxCUzjPoQGg-n-qdLnOUYbw&url=http://www.patriotledger.com/mobile/x1213258688/In-Quincy-a-Flag-Day-boost-to-the-Bruins
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