I found out during this past weekend that a $200 prize is being offered for the best entry in the July Fourth parade this year. The Fourth Fest Committee is looking for additional donors so that more prizes can be offered. Any takers? The Married Daughter and her husband, What’s His Name, are in charge of the event this year. I bet if you contacted either of them, they would be happy to take your name for a contribution.

Donations to the fireworks display are also needed. Decades ago when I was a Chamber of Commerce member and that organization was in charge of the event, we put on the display for about $2,000 every year. While it is still a homegrown fireworks show, put on without computers and synthesizers, the cost has skyrocketed (no pun intended.)

The Chamber did everything for the celebration and hoped every year that the gate donations and proceeds from the concessions, ball games, Bingo, and the Carnival would cover the cost of the fireworks for another year. Back then the celebration was free, but members worked the gates with buckets to take donations from those who wanted to contribute.

During the years I have lived in Peabody, July Fourth has always been that kind of an event. Pulling it off every year depends on generous contributions from businesses, individuals, and other organizations and clubs, as well as hundreds of volunteer hours. It is my understanding that our Independence Day Extravaganza has been that way from the beginning. If the community could make it happen through world wars, the Great Depression, years of turmoil and conflict as well as the good years, we can surely keep it up.

Sign up to be a part of it and help Peabody pull off a great celebration one more time.

— SUSAN MARSHALL