The Charlestown Pride Week and Battle of Bunker Hill Day Parade couldn’t have rolled out in a better way last week, with great attendance at all of the events and crowds packing the streets for the Parade – aided of course by ideal
The Battle of Bunker Hill Parade rolled out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on June 10, with a little of everything for everyone. There were militias, military
contingents, politicians and some fun stuff too. Here, the Brian Boru Pipe Band from Falmouth marches past the Bunker Hill Monument. In the photo above Will Lambert and Peter Golden Jr. help Vivian Rose Golden celebrate her First Bunker Hill Parade.
weather on every day except Monday, June 4.
The Parade was exceptional this year, and followed up on another great parade that was had last year.
The Parade Committee does amazing work year in and year out, led by Arthur Hurley, and this year things moved smoothly and every entry was organized and interesting.
Candidates poured into the Town from the governor to Congressman Mike Capuano and an appearance from Mayor Martin Walsh – in addition to many City Councilors and Charlestown’s delegation, State Rep. Dan Ryan, Councilor Lydia Edwards, State Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Attorney General Maura Healey.
One U.S. Senate candidate had an interesting entry in regard to his competition, Sen. Elizabeth Warren – who was not in the Parade.
The Colonial militias marched valiantly once again and remain a very special part of this Parade, as does the military aspect and the friendly sailors from the USS Constitution.
We spotted more than a few of the young Navy marchers having fun with the children on the route, and even a couple of guys who purchased lemonade from some enterprising youths on Bunker Hill Street.
Charlestown Pride Week saw a surge of activity and attendance.
Associates President Kim Mahoney delivered a week that welcomed everyone and brought a taste of old Charlestown to the table.
Noteworthy was the concert in Eden Street Park on Thursday night, where more than 200 came to hear traditional Irish music and watch Irish Step performers. Meanwhile, kids had a ball in the park courtesy of Chief Marshal Jack Tkachuk – who was a great choice to lead the efforts this year.
Another fine moment was the Associates’ Family Feud, which Mahoney said was the most successful in years.
More than 25 teams and about 250 people packed the Knights of Columbus’s Father Mahoney Hall on Wednesday night. Teams made up of long-time families, friends and organizations battled it out over their knowledge of trivia – all emceed by Kiss 108’s Karson Tager.
An incredibly special two moments came on Friday when hundreds of family and friends from the Kelly and Doe families assembled on Bunker Hill Street to dedicate two Hero Squares – one to the late John Kelly Sr. and the other to the late Eugene ‘Gene’ Doe. Both served their country honorably and both were humble about what they endured to preserve freedom.
As was said at the ceremonies, neither man would have wanted the recognition nor would they have shown up for the ceremony.
It wasn’t in their DNA.
Yet, as Mahoney said from the start of Pride Week, Bunker Hill is a time to remember the veterans from the Town who did amazing things that we do not know about.
They didn’t talk about it.
On Friday, the community did the talking for them. Few things were more appropriately woven into the Bunker Hill celebrations than those two events.
It was a great week from top to bottom, and certainly one that will remain in the memories of the young people who participated and the adults that were able to take two weeks out of the year to connect with, re-connect with or lead the way to the Charlestown community.