Title
Recognizing and celebrating the 35th Annual 4th of July Portland Avenue parade and social.
Body
WHEREAS, Mary Landreman and Patricia Schaffner, neighbors who lived on Portland Avenue, in 1986 decided to hold an informal parade on the 4th of July to show off their new babies; and
WHEREAS, that initial parade on Portland Avenue between Dunlap and Griggs Avenues included several other neighbors on decorated bicycles and a two-person marching band; and
WHEREAS, the popularity of the initial parade encouraged the residents on the block to continue the tradition in subsequent years; and
WHEREAS, residents on the block enhanced the parade by bringing food to share once the parade ended; and
WHEREAS, younger residents on the block began to take leadership roles by carrying the United States flag to lead off the parade; and
WHEREAS, members of the Lex-Ham Community Band joined the event each year to provide a marching band for the parade; and
WHEREAS, word about the annual event spread and residents from the surrounding blocks in the Lexington-Hamline neighborhood and beyond began to come and participate; and
WHEREAS, a community sing-along of patriotic songs was added to start off the event each year; and
WHEREAS, to highlight the history of the 4th of July and to increase the civic knowledge of the residents, an annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by members of the community was added to the event; and
WHEREAS, a “Human Flag” is formed each year by residents of all ages to symbolize how our country depends on all residents to participate in its civic life; and
WHEREAS, the 4th of July Portland Avenue Parade and Social has been happening as a grass-roots civic engagement and community-building event annually every year since 1986; and now therefore be it
RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul recognizes and celebrates the 35th anniversary of the 4th of July Portland Avenue Parade and Social.