The July 4th, 2013, Independence Day events in Bel Air offered fun, patriotic splendor, and educational interest to citizens of the entire region, all during a day of beautiful summer weather, sunny with light breezes and totally devoid of rain.
Tens of thousands of citizens from the greater Bel Air area and across Harford County and beyond participated and enjoyed the traditional small-town events on Thursday, July 4, culminating with the annual parade and one of the best fireworks displays since the fireworks moved to their present shoot-off location.
Events got under way at 6:45 a.m. at Bel Air High School with the flag raising ceremony, featuring Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30 and American Legion Bel Air Post 39. The national anthem was sung by Miss Bel Air Independence Day 2013 Laura Patnaude.
The traditional pancake and sausage breakfast followed, in which over 2,000 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. According to existing records, the number of paid customers in 2013 was the highest ever.
During the morning, the Hays House was open to visitors, and offered lawn games and guided tours of the historic facility. More than 175 visitors stopped by.
Program Cover Contest Winner
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 done by Faith Moen of Bel Air, a student at Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School.
The official program was designed and produced by Michael Blum; 2012 event photos used in the program were taken by Laura Stafford of the Town of Bel Air staff. The 2013 Program was sponsored by Jones Junction.
A full roster of daytime competitive events were held at various locations in the Town of Bel Air. The results of these were as follows:
Horseshoe Pitching (Rockfield Park)
Women's Singles:
1st: Vicki Smith of Darlington
2nd: Velma Schleicher of Bel Air
Women's Doubles:
1st: Vicki Smith and Breanna Smith of Darlington
Men's Singles:
1st: Lionel Bowser of Aberdeen
2nd: Johnny Sequoyall of Baltimore
Men's Doubles:
1st: Jim Reabe of Middle River and Bunk Shipley of Arbutus
2nd: Jeff Cooper and Jeff Cooper, Jr., of Delta, PA
Turtle Derby
(Shamrock Park; held according to DNR guidelines, with a 1 turtle limit per entrant)
Box Turtles — 86 total participants
1st: Turtle entered by Jacob and Mason Smith
2nd: Bugs, entered by Erin Drumm
3rd: Michelangelo, entered by Jacob Gibson
Other Turtles — 42 total participants
1st: Turtle entered by Billie Bob Joe
2nd: Turtle entered by Eric and Owen
3rd: Turtle entered by Jenna, Bethany and Kelly
Frog Jumping Contest
(Shamrock Park; held according to DNR guidelines, with a 1 frog limit per entrant) — 178 total participants
1st: Frog entered by Claire Palmer and Gus MacKres, with a 3-jump total of 156 inches — short of the all-time record of 171 inches
2nd: Frog entered by Erin and Megan Drumm, with a 3-jump total of 135 inches
3rd: Frog entered by Sam Lynch, with a 3-jump total of 118 inches
Bicycle Rodeo
(Bel Air Elementary School parking lot)
Best Decorated — Girls: Ava Gottschalk of Abingdon
Best Decorated — Boys: Norman Jones of Delta, PA
Ages 5 and under:
1st: Zach Tamanini of Bel Air
2nd: Sarah Herron of Forest Hill
3rd: Luke Dallaire of Bel Air
Ages 6-8:
1st: Elizabeth McPherson of Abingdon
2nd: Kyle Bacso of Bel Air
3rd: Elizabeth Dallaire of Bel Air
Ages 9-10:
1st: Norman Jones of Delta, PA.
2nd: Emma Burrows of Bel Air
3rd: Daniel Rodier of Bel Air
Ages 11-13:
1st: Jake Borrows of Bel Air
2nd: Aubrey Hoover of Bel Air
3rd: Chase Donelson of Bel Air
Uncle Sam Says
(Shamrock Park)
Ages 5-7:
1st: Connor Scurti from Bel Air
2nd: Morgan Hennigan from Bel Air
3rd: Maggie Donohue from Bel Air
Ages 8-10:
1st: Ashton Tolson from Bel Air
2nd: Allison Brown from Bel Air
3rd Robert Kahoe from Bel Air
Ages 11-13:
1st: Gabrielle Roeder from Whiteford
2nd: Morgan Rhinehart from Whiteford
3rd: Jessica Douglas from Whiteford
Ages 14+:
1st: Sharon Pindell from Bel Air
2nd: Erin Swam from Bel Air
3rd: Madison Battaglia from Bel Air
Watermelon Eating Contest
(Shamrock Park)
Ages 6 and under:
1st: Brady Barbas
2nd: Graceanne Manager from Bel Air
3rd: Allison Moce from Bel Air
Ages 7-10:
1st: Zach Kerfoot from Bel Air
2nd: Faith Hess from Whiteford
3rd: Lexi Schmitt from Bel Air
Ages 11-16:
1st: Rob Elliott from Bel Air
2nd: Jason Kolbe from Bel Air
3rd: Amaris Nolan from Bel Air
Ages 17+:
1st: Brian Daniels from North East
2nd: Jeff Tolson from Bel Air
3rd: Bobby Weaver from Forest Hill
After a recess for the afternoon, the traditional parade began at 6:00 p.m at the intersection of North Main Street and Gordon Street on the north side of Bel Air. The parade was greeted with approval by an estimated crowd of 45,000 spectators.
Reviewing stand narration was provided by Don Morrison, helped by Text Messaging Parade Marshals, led by Perry Thompson 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, sponsor of the Tampa Bay Thunder
• Buontempo Brothers/Tower Restaurant, sponsor of the Patterson Mill High School Band
• Festival at Bel Air, sponsor of the Harford Highlanders
• HAR-CO Maryland Federal Credit Union, sponsor of the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps
• Jones Junction Auto Dealerships, sponsor of the C. Milton Wright High School Band
• Klein's ShopRites of Maryland, sponsor of the Bel Air Community Band
• Plaza Ford, sponsor of the Havre de Grace High School Band
• PNC Bank, sponsor of the Bel Air High School Band
• TD Bank, sponsor of the John F. Nicoll Pipes and Drums
Parade Results
6 independent Parade Judges viewed the parade, whose theme was CELEBRATING AMERICA'S VOLUNTEERS!, and awarded the following prizes:
Floats:
1st prize: $400: Susquehanna Beekeepers
2nd prize: $300: Cub Scout Pack 865
3rd prize: $200: Hickory Hornets
4th prize: $100: Ripken Baseball
5th prize: $75:Baha'i's of Bel Air
6th prize: $50: Bel Air Lions Club
Equestrian Units:
1st prize: $100: Lindsay Leedy - Uncle Miltie's Minis
2nd prize: $90: Verna White - America in Miniature
3rd prize: $80: Shining Eye Percherons
Antique Vehicles (plaques):
1st prize: Maryland State Police historic cars
2nd prize: Smith Family antique vehicle & tractors
3rd prize: J. Sue Henry - 1930 Model A
Color Guards (Plaques):
1st prize: Harford County Detachment, Marine Corps League
2nd prize: Harford County Sheriff's Office
Mobile Units (Plaques):
1st prize: Bel Air Corvette Club
2nd prize: program cover artist Faith Moen
3rd prize: Domino's Pizza
4th prize: Boumi Shrine Motorcycle Corps
Marching Units (Plaques):
1st prize: Alpha-Omega 4x4 Off-road & Christian Ministry
2nd prize: Bel Air Terps Football and Cheerleaders
3rd prize: Cub Scout Pack 999
Emergency Vehicles (Plaques):
1st prize: Jarrettsville VFC
2nd prize: Abingdon VFC
3rd prize: Level VFC
Comic/Novelty Acts (Plaques):
1st prize: Michael Rosman's Circus Camp Stars
2nd prize: Hall's Septic Service
3rd prize: Buontempo Brothers
Harford County High School Bel Air July 4 Parade Trophy:
Awarded for 2013 to the C. Milton Wright High School Marching Mustang Band
Bands, Drum & Bugle Corps, Majorette Corps (Plaques):
1st prize: Fusion Core
2nd prize: Shenandoah Sound
3rd prize: Carolina gold
Notable People (Plaques):
Most Patriotic: Harford County Little Miss Fire Prevention Ambassador Sabrina Wainwright
Best Presentation: Harford County Little Fire Chief Drew Cosenza
Most Popular with the Crowd: HCPS Teacher of the Year Kristin Schaub & Nurse of the Year Janet Mueller who were transported by the Bel Air Corvette Club
Seemed Happiest to be in the Parade: Miss Historic Maryland 2013 Stephanie Meadowcroft
Most Admired Entry: Miss Bel Air Maryland America 2013 "Queen for the Cure" Katie Kinslow
Absolutely Unique Entry: Kinetic Youth Academy (Receives a Plaque).
Judges Awards for Special Merit:
George Hubbard 1959 Mercedes-Benz
Havre de Grace High School Marching Band
Patterson Mill High School Marching Band
Baltimore Go-Getters
John F. Nicholl Pipe Band
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company
Bel Air Community Band
Winners, sponsor information
Winners of awards in the parade are contacted by the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., to deliver their prizes. Parade awards winners may also call Michael Blum at 410-893-1700.
The evening ended with a grand fireworks display launched from Rockfield Park and sponsored by Harford Mutual Insurance Company.
Sponsoring Organizations for the 2013 Independence Day Celebration and of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee were: the Bel Air Auxiliary Police Unit, the Bel Air Lions Club, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. and the Town of Bel Air.
