Bristol 4th of July Parade Set to Celebrate its 230th Year

GoLocalProv News Team

Bristol 4th of July Parade Set to Celebrate its 230th Year

The annual Bristol 4th of July parade, the oldest annual parade in the country, will be celebrating its 230th year this Independence Day.

The parade which begins at 10:30 am, will step-off at the corner of Chestnut Street and Hope Street (Rt. 114) and end on High Street, between State Street and Bradford Street.

Raymond E. Gallison, Jr., a longtime member of Bristol Community, has been declared the chief marshal of the 230th celebration. He currently sits as the Rhode Island House Committee on Finance Chair. 

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This parade first began back in 1785 when Revolutionary War veteran Reverend Henry Wight, of Bristol's First Congregational Church, conducted the first Patriotic Exercises.

From the early 1900’s on, a Navy vessel has been included as part of the celebration, however due to the Government Sequestration, there was no vessel present at the 2013 or 2014 celebration. This year the USS Shamal (PC 13), commanded by Lieutenant Commander Alisha E. Hamilton, is present at the event. 

The parade is the culmination of the celebration which started on June 14: Flag Day. The complete title of the 2.5 mile parade is the Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade.

For more information regarding the parade follow this link


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