On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Drums beating, horns blaring, fire engine sirens screeching – parades are great! This year’s Somerville Memorial Day Parade is supposed to be the biggest ever, but let’s not forget that the main purpose of the parade is to pay tribute – it is to remember all those brave men and women who gave their lives, as well as those who continue to fight today – so we can continue to enjoy our basic American freedoms. We stand and clap with proud yet mournful hearts as members of Veterans units march by us – we say a special prayer as those matriarchs of the parade – the Gold Star Mothers – pass us.

We must never forget the reason we celebrate Memorial Day, we cannot.

Now let’s discuss other aspects of the parade‚ĶFor a couple of years I rode in the Oldies 103.3 Van in the parade. Since I don’t work there anymore, I doubt you will be seeing it this year. I’m still looking for some cool old vintage convertible to sit in on Sunday – does anyone have suggestions?

If I get that city job I want, maybe I will be driving a street sweeper or sitting on top of a sewer truck – that would be so cool! When I was a kid, Eddie Pellegrini (a current city employee) and I marched with our father’s Veteran’s group – the Italian-American War Vets. So what if the helmets were so big they covered our eyes – we loved being part of it. We marched along with our fathers, with Mary Forni, Joe Antonelli, Leonard Scott and Joe Palange. The ITAMS headquarters was that little square building on Cameron Ave. After the parade we had soda and sandwiches there and Joe Antonelli entertained us on the piano.

Mayor Joe always goes to great lengths to get the best units for the parade – here are some of my top picks. You can’t beat those little Shriner’s cars or that family that rides the unicycles and old bikes. A shiny fire engine is always an inspiring sight. The old MTA bus is one of my favorites too, maybe because it is like the ones we rode to school – before they put those butt-breaking hard plastic seats in.The old buses had those plush leather seats stuffed with horsehair I think.

Speaking of horses, we can always depend on a horse for an “accident” in the middle of Highland Avenue Рand why do we always laugh when that happens Рor am I the only one? Juvenile humor never leaves some of us, even when we get older.

Another warm sight on parade day is the folks who get their spot early and set up their lounge chairs and the dads with their kids perched upon their shoulders. In the old days, I remember other groups of patriotic spectators standing outside of their respective watering holes along the parade route.

Members of The Pine Tree Patrol, The Cadillac Crusaders, The Rosebud Raiders, Pat Connelly’s Platoon, The Railside Rangers, and Frascati’s Fighters.

This year my son will be in the parade with the All-City Marching Band. I may grab some sticks and an extra snare drum and drum roll my way down Highland Ave with them.

My real hope is to march with The Mayor himself – that would be really awesome. What do you say, Joe?  Now that I am going to be doing a cable TV show and The Senior Picnic, can I march with you? And by the way Joe, don’t forget to bring an extra 20 bucks for when that guy with the shopping cart full of toys shows up!!  I want one of those plastic bugles!

Thank you to all the brave veterans who we are forever indebted to.

Please e-mail your comments to Jimmy at: jimmydel@rcn.com