The 2007 WILI Boom Box Parade
The 2007 July 4th Boom Box Parade again drew huge crowds to downtown Willimantic. The parade lasted 101 minutes–four minutes short of 2006’s all time record. WFSB and WVIT, and WTIC television covered the parade. Charter cable CTV-14 shot the entire parade, and will show it on July 28 and August 4 at 8pm. And look for coverage in the Chronicle, Bulletin, and Courant, who were here. To see the WFSB video, click here.
The parade began with a “virtual” fireworks display over the greater Windham area, was followed by a “virtual” flyover by the Connecticut National Guard’s A-10 Warthog, then Boston Red Sox public address announcer Carl Beane introduced the parade with a moment of silence for Americans who have died on the battlefield, and a salute to the late Kathy Clark, who conceived of this parade format in 1986.
The highlight of the parade was an appearance by Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell, who marched at the front of the parade.
Parade grand marshal, WILI morning personality Wayne Norman, had a 1950’s theme, in connection with our 50th anniversary which is October 5, 2007. Wayne had slicked back, gelled, black hair, a black t-shirt with rolled up sleeves showing a tattoo, cuffed dungarees, white socks and black high-topped sneakers. For the holiday, he wore his red, white, and blue sequined vest, with a white sash holding 50’s vintage 45 rpm records including “Willimantic, USA” by the Yankee Nutmeggers, and “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin (for “Romantic Willimantic). More 45’s were on his back.
This was the best attended parade in our 22 years.