The town of Bel Air continued its annual celebrations Wednesday, July 4th. Tens of thousands of citizens from the greater Bel Air area and across Harford County participated and enjoyed the traditional small-town events on Wednesday, culminating with the annual parade and a fireworks display, taking place in the evening.
Events got underway at 6:45 am at Bel Air High School, with the flag raising ceremony featuring Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30 and American Legion Bel Air Post 39. The traditional pancake and sausage breakfast followed, in which over 2500 adults and children were served pancakes, blueberry pancakes, juice and sausages, prepared by over 50 volunteers from the Bel Air Lions, under the direction of Harold Boccia, and with the assistance of members of the Bel Air High School Varsity Football Team. Go Bobcats!
The traditional parade began at 6:00 pm at the intersection of North Main Street and Gordon Street on the north side of Bel Air. The parade gathered an estimated 45,000 spectators.
6 independent Parade Judges viewed the parade, whose theme was”LAND OF THE FREE”, and awarded the following prizes:
FLOATS
1st Prize: $400: BAHA’I’S OF BEL AIR
2nd Prize: $300: OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
3rd Prize: $200: HARFORD COUNTY FARM FAIR
THE HARFORD COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BEL AIR JULY 4 PARADE TROPHY was awarded to:
C. MILTON WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING MUSTANG BAND
JUDGES AWARDS FOR SPECIAL MERIT:
HAVRE DE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND
PATTERSON MILL HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND
EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND
THE PHILIPPINE HERITAGE BAND
HALL’S HONEY POTS
MISS BEL AIR INDEPENDENCE DAY 2012 STEPHANIE MEADOWCROFT