Newton marked Memorial Day with three days of events, beginning with a ceremony on Saturday morning, May 25, at Forte Park honoring PFC Richard J. Forte, who was killed in 1968 while serving in Vietnam. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, City Councilors, and members of veterans groups gathered at Nonantum Post 440 and then proceeded to hang flags on bridges over the Mass Turnpike.
On a spectacular, sunny Sunday on May 26, the Nonantum Children’s Christmas Association (NCCA) and a large contingent of bands, floats, color guards, marching groups gathered at Newton North High School for the annual parade to Colletti-Magni Park on Watertown Street in Nonantum. NCCA officials Anthony Pellegrini, Jr., Anthony Clemente, Carl Pasquarosa, and Chuck Proia directed parade participants.
Parade participants included the Stow Minutemen Company 1774, horses from the National Lancers, and Uncle Sam (Evn Tomeny) on stilts. People sitting and standing along the parade route, from Walnut to Watertown Streets, moved to the music of the Hot Tamale Band, the New Liberty Jazz Band, the North End Marching Band, the Roma Band, and the Grooversity drummers.
A large contingent of Newton North High School LigerBots robotics team and their prize-winning robot matched the bright sunshine in their yellow, orange, and red T-shirts. Bands and performers, including Daniel Fontaine, an Elvis impersonator, came from all over Massachusetts and New England to join the parade. Bringing up the rear, Larry Bearfield drove the “Lake” truck with a life-size photograph of the parade’s longtime organizer, Anthony “Fat” Pellegrini, who died in 2004 but is still a palpable force in making the day a success.
Mayor Fuller, several City Councilors, and Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Devaney were waiting for the marchers and joined Mr. Fontaine’s moving rendition of America, The Beautiful….