Here are some memories contributed by Barcrofters who were at the 1997 Fourth of July Parade:
Astronaut Guy Gardner and his wife led off the parade on the back of Tom Palance's
convertible. Imagine having a real live astronaut living in your neighborhood, and he
turns out to be a very likeable down-to-earth guy.
Here Guy signs an autograph for star-struck Lauren Wilson.
The incredible Challenger space shuttle float constructed by the 8th Road team, with a
fifteen foot wingspan, floating above a model of the Barcroft Community House, with
smoke coming out the jets.
One marcher had both an American flag and another, unusual flag. It was the flag to
commemorate the recognition of Phillippine independence by the U.S., done on a July 4th, in
(maybe) 1947 or so.
Youngest child in Barcroft was the daughter of Pam and Duncan Sellars. She was only seven days
old, and Pam looked like she was already fully recovered. We saw them inside the Community House,
sitting on the steps to the stage.
Oldest person there was probably James Chalmers, born in 1902 and a long-time Barcrofter. He
was one of our parade reviewers.
Conchita Mitchell, now Executive Director of CPRO, was another of our reviewers. It was
Conchita (then School Board President) who saved our bacon in two of our first parades when we
had no idea how to organize judging, and she got the other judges organized and figured out how
to award the prizes. Her prize award presentation was so pleasing and seemed so right for a
neighborhood parade that we have been inviting her back ever since.
The Community House was a wreck! The kitchen had been "demo-ed" by the renovation crew, and was
just an empty room, recalling that it was once the second room of a two-room schoolhouse. The stage
was empty of all the church's stuff. Only the main room was in nice shape for the tables and tables
of NASA space giveaways: photos, stickers, pamphlets and more. The Barcroft Home Page was running
on a PC for all to try out. At least one kid spent a good amount of time trying to break it, but
it was kidproofed! A video of the moon probe was on another screen, but was not kidproofed, so
the tape got erased early on (same kid?) and it was non-operational after that.
Holler from the sidelines to the fire engine driver: "Thanks for coming--it wouldn't be a
parade without Engine Company 51!"
David Michaelson and Bruce Atkinson shoveling hamburgers and hotdogs in the heat and the smoke,
their eyes red from smoke and perspiration running down their faces.
State Assemblyman Karen Darner cutting up watermelons until her hands were so sticky she
couldn't even shake hands with anybody. As always, her baked beans were the first to disappear
when the hungry hoardes struck, and she went home with the large empty pan.
Everybody smiling about the nice coverage of the event in the Washington Post on July
3rd, complete with color picture. It was so nice to see the neighborhood presented in a positive
light after all the recent fighting with the County Board.
Barbara Swart selling $260 worth of Barcroft tee shirts, cookbooks and notecards, partially
offsetting the cost of the event. Many asked about admission charges, and were surprised when
there were none. We don't spend that much ...
Randy Swart standing in our Eagle cart and mashing down the trash. It all fit!
Scott Brinitzer and Caroll Letelier in red Barcroft tee shirts, with Scott
explaining where he got the magnolia, leland cypress and other trees he has been planting on
the Community House grounds.
Jay Jacob Wind, Chairman of Arlington's Parks and Recreation Commission, visiting and
explaining why they are delaying the widening of our section of the W&OD trail.
Sparkles the Clown entertaining the kids in the Community House, with gales of laughter
pouring out every few minutes. Even the kids who thought they were "too old for that" stayed.
A circle of people sitting in the grass on the shady side of the Community House, who turned
out to be Latin American students learning legal english here (shudder) who had asked their
teacher what people do here on the 4th, and she being a Barcrofter had a good answer for them.
Beth Lodsun asking if we could be sure to mention on our Web page the sponsors who contributed
door prizes or other support for the parade. We sure can, and here they
are.
The Tesh's great-grandchildren marching with a wagon decorated as a covered wagon. Like some
other Barcroft families, all three generations were visiting for the day, and had a cookout later
before the fireworks.
The two "space aliens" who won a prize for their innovative costumes, reminiscent of R2D2 with
their dome heads.
Jillions of kids on decorated bicycles in the parade, every one of them looking cute.
A 1930 Model A Ford sedan in the parade looking like it had come from the showroom yesterday,
with Traffic Committee Chair Elaine Squeri inside.
Guy Gardner after the parade autographing photos and chatting
with people for hours. He was a very popular guy, and will forever be a neighborhood hero. He even
wore his flight suit despite the heat. As many adults as kids wanted to meet him.
The Barcroft School science teacher who was indignant that the Challenger float was to be
pitched out, claiming it for her classroom.
The television cameraman explaining why he was taping for Dubai television, and saying that
you would be surprised at how much people in the Gulf were interested in what is happening in
America.
