Posted on 07/05/2005 5:54:14 PM PDT by gringo_in_Akita
AMHERST - Two A-10 fighter jets tore across the Amherst sky just as the Independence Day parade came to a close Monday afternoon.
Below, a crowd of July Fourth revelers, and a much smaller group of peace and anti-war activists, lifted their heads from the streets and took a pause as the Warthogs flew overhead.
Loud as thunder, the military jets were a late addition to an otherwise festive and peaceful Fourth of July parade that brought thousands to Amherst's downtown on a beautiful summer day.
The parade was Amherst's fourth since a group of volunteers revived the Independence Day event after Sept. 11, 2001. And some who recall when the town tradition died in 1976 are glad to have the event back.
''I love it with a passion,'' said Bob Sacco, of Amherst, as he puffed on a cigar.
Some asked to leave
Sage, a civil liberties group, marched peacefully between the Polish Heritage Committee and J & J Farms of Amherst.
The center of controversy with organizers and town leaders in the days leading up to the parade, Sage marched behind a banner that read, ''Honor the Bill of Rights: Protect Our Civil Liberties.''
They were greeted respectfully by onlookers, many of whom clapped in support.
At the town Common, near the intersection of Main and North Pleasant streets, more than two dozen peace and anti-war activists gathered with signs, some demanding an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq.
Jon Nelms of Amherst toted a sign that read ''Sieg Heil,'' a German salute closely associated with Adolf Hitler.
''What I'm doing is comparing America to Germany of the 1930s,'' said Nelms when asked to explain the meaning of his sign.
Nearby, Susan Triolo of Sunderland said she doesn't often attend Independence Day parades, but felt it was important to make a stand this year.
''I'm really terrified about the way people are no longer able to disagree with their government and be considered American,'' said Triolo, who brandished a sign that read: ''America Was Born of Dissent.''
''I came here as an expression of my right to free speech,'' she said from beneath her sun hat.
Four protesters were asked to leave the hourlong parade by organizers and police, including three people who marched with the Amherst Democratic Committee.
''They were not on the list of people in the parade,'' said Helen Thelen, co-chairwoman of the parade committee.
Larry Kelley, a parade organizer, said the three people marching with the Amherst Democratic Committee were carrying signs that he and other organizers deemed ''inappropriate.''
''We're not going to hold it against the Amherst Democratic Committee,'' Kelley said today.
Parade draws all ages
Children, some dressed in red, white and blue, scrambled along the curbsides of Main Street gleaning candy tossed from parade floats. They cringed at the sound of fire engine horns and police sirens and waved to marchers from parents' shoulders.
Older couples sat together on benches in the shade holding small American flags as bagpipers and drummers belted out music.
College students sat atop stone walls and mingled with friends as old-time jazz musicians and dancing horses entertained spectators.
Monday's parade brought an eclectic group of marchers to the streets, including the North County Line Dancers, of Greenfield, who dazzled the crowd with their synchronized moves atop a flatbed truck.
The nine-member group, whose members range in age from 34 to 76, elicited cheers as they danced in step to numbers like ''Cheek to Cheek'' and ''Beer for My Horses.''
''Obviously, we had a good time, and we'll do it again,'' said a red-faced Patricia Barschenski, of Whately, shortly after the parade.
The crowd, ''seems to be enchanted by it,'' she said of line dancing.
Smiling politicians waved to the people amidst military veterans marching in uniform. There was a Jeep with a mounted machine gun, antique fire equipment - even a big papier-mache cow that was hoisted into the air with a front-end loader.
Overall, organizers said they were pleased with this year's Fourth of July event, which was followed into the night by barbecues, celebrations, and fireworks at the University of Massachusetts.
''We were very pleased with the turnout,'' Thelen said. ''We had a perfect day.''
''What I'm doing is comparing America to Germany of the 1930s,'' said Nelms when asked to explain the meaning of his sign. [\quote]
Yeah, you go get 'em tiger. What an idiot.
I worked in Amherst for three years. Amherst is EVIL!!
Why am I not surprised?
Don't the guys flying the A-10s protect the people of Amherst? I know they're protecting me.
They're ANG from Bradley in Connecticut.
We'll gladly give Amherst to the enemy.
Just to be clear, this is Amherst, MA NOT Amherst, NH.
''What I'm doing is comparing America to Germany of the 1930s,'' said Nelms when asked to explain the meaning of his sign. [\quote]
My College German History Prof would have liked to got hold of Herr Nelms. Dr Witke had been a Waffen SS Col in WWII and could have really educated Herr Nelms on what Germany was really like then and how the US is no where near that.
My cousin used to live in whately mass and we would go into amherst to see the queers and freaks. With smith college there the whole town is one big fruit cake, but we had fun people watching all the goons.
Most Americans know precious little about history.
"Don't the guys flying the A-10s protect the people of Amherst? I know they're protecting me..."
Those A-10s are protecting their country only if they used it as a jettison zone for hung ordinance.
It is one of the most politically correct places on earth.
And it is the home of the University of Massachusetts.
You get the picture. The moonbats rule there.
I am excepting, of course, the veterans and others who understand the meaning of the Fourth of July...:)
No,no. Smith is in Northampton (across the river). Most lesbian town in the United States.
Jeez -- dissent is all these people ever talk about. They never say anything useful.
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