BCAT News

Board of Selectmen member Mike Runyan along with Terri Tarpey are taking on chair duties for the Burlington 4th of July Parade Committee which is taking a different approach to the traditional patriotic procession. Runyan explained this year’s event will be a “Rolling Rally” featuring and honoring anybody who was made an essential worker a year ago.  

“We want to highlight the people who put themselves in harm’s way to make sure that the rest of us were safe and well fed. If they kept their doors open and were putting themselves in harm’s way, we just want to recognize as many of those folks as we can,” said Runyan.

As a safety measure all parade participants will be in or on a motorized moving vehicle. There will be no marching bands but the “Rolling Rally” will have some familiar attractions like the Shriners little cars buzzing by and the Hanscom Civil Air Patrol.

The rally is set to include local heroes like People Helping People, HELPIS, Burlington, Womenade, members of the Burlington Board of Health and what Runyan says will be a healthy contingent from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center.

“Sounds like they’re going to be having quite a large group representing them,” Runyan remarked.

Of course first responders will be part of the motorcade with quite a few police, fire and EMS vehicles from the area expected. Representation from local businesses includes Wegmans, Chick-Fil-A and A Whole Bunch of Flowers.

Runyan said the Parade Committee is thinking outside the box on this one with people reaching out everyday with ideas and attractions for the rally. 

“Our primary focus is all those people who kept us safe throughout the COVID crisis,” Runyan said

The “Rolling Rally” for local healthcare heroes, essential workers and first responders will be held July 4th and will start at Pine Glen School, travel down Wilmington Road, turn up Cambridge Street, continue onto Winn Street and end at Marshall Simonds Middle School.

Runyan says the committee is still accepting ideas and participants for entry in the “Rolling Rally” so feel free to contact them through the Burlington 4th of July Parade Committee Facebook or by visiting their website burlingtonjuly4th.com.