Hours before the Independence Day Parade started in Ocean Grove this morning, onlookers gathered along Main Street to show their patriotism.
“It really is just kind of a Norman Rockwell moment and I think that what draws so many people to watch the parade,” Neptune Township Mayor Randy Bishop said. “People within town are in it and people from outside of town are in it and everybody wants to see a part of what really people think of when they think of celebrating the Fourth of July.”
The parade, which stretched more than two miles, is sponsored by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
“Absolutely not a penny comes from taxpayers,” said Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association President Dale Whilden. “This is all a gift on part of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to the community.”
The Ocean Grove Independence Day Parade began in 1969. Now 50 different groups, five bands, and residents from a number of communities are participating in today’s activities.
WATCH VIDEO:
Dennis Matthies brought his grandchildren to the parade. He says he couldn’t imagine spending the holiday anywhere else.
“This is the typical American parade. It’s great every year,” Matthies said. “Half the town is in it and the other half is watching and a good part of Ocean County is here too.”
Bishop says the aftermath of Friday’s storm posed a challenge to officials planning holiday festivities throughout shore communities, but Neptune Township didn’t have to cancel any of the Fourth of July celebrations.
“I think we were all concerned and on a conference call with the governor on Friday night, with the governor’s office, we talked about how we worked the message to make people not frightened but understand. People still came. People are here,” Bishop said. “We are still observing the ban in terms of watering our lawns but we’re still celebrating the Fourth.”
Bishop says the parade gives the businesses in town a boost and a busy holiday weekend jump starts the shore’s summer tourism season.
“This is a time that we really start to pull the money in that’s going to carry us through some of the slower times that we see,” Bishop said. “This weekend is necessary for the economy of the Jersey Shore, for the economy of Monmouth County, and we’re planning to make it work and everyone who is here supporting us is helping us do that.”
On this Fourth of July, residents are not only showing support for their community, but for their country.
Lauren Wanko reports from Ocean Grove.