July 4, 2007 — St. John celebrated July 4th Wednesday with it annual parades and lots of good feelings.
"I get more hugs here," A.C. Burgess said. A former St. John resident who now lives on St. Thomas, Burgess said the hugs start as soon as he gets off the ferry and they don't stop till he leaves.
St. John’s July 4th Celebration has a warmer atmosphere than other similar events he has attended as a member of the Party Lovers troupe, said St. Thomas resident Keith Isaac.
"The mixture is much nicer," he said.
Cruz Bay's streets came alive with about 50 different troupes, floupes, bands and members of royalty who made their way under broiling skies through the streets of the town.
Grand Marshal Graeme Davis got the parade rolling at about 45 minutes past the scheduled 11 a.m. start. As the convertible carrying him made its way down the street, Davis, the Westin Resort and Villas manager, spread the welcome-to-St. John message.
"Where you from?" he called out to visitors lining the road.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty later said the large number of visitors at the event showed that cultural tourism works. "It's such a great opportunity,” she said. “There are so many visitors.”
Eve Kolodner and Jim Brunner of Baltimore, who are staying at Frenchman's Cove, took the ferry over from St. Thomas to see what the July 4th Celebration was all about.
"This is the biggest thing going," Brunner said.
Also out for the parade were Paul King and Sarah Wheeler of Stratford, Conn., who are staying at a villa on St. John. They were impressed that Gov. John deJongh stopped to shake their hands and ask where they hailed from as he made his way up and down the street.
DeJongh said that he was surprised at how large St. John's carnival had grown.
"I'm just enjoying it," he said.
While many visitors came from the mainland, others hailed from closer to St. John. Cecil Theodore and Brenda John took the boat over from St. Croix to see St. John's parade.
"We just came to enjoy the day," Theodore said.
As usual, the Middle Aged Majorettes turned out in full force. This year the St. John troupe had pink bikinis printed on their white t-shirts. Some sported pink feathers and beads. While they were there to have fun, they also came with a message.
"We're marching for the cure," said Jane Washburn as the 20 or so women shook it up to "We Are Family."
With four breast-cancer survivors among its members, the group is trying to raise awareness about the disease, she said.
The AARP members, who hailed from across the territory, also had a message. St. John resident Sally Browne said the members were pushing for health insurance for all, economic security for all and the Government Employees’ Retirement System for generations to come.
"Divided we fail,” she said, busy handing out fans that carried that message. “Together we can do anything.”
The Westin was out in full force with an Under the Sea theme. Its troupe members wore blue and green.
Caneel Bay Resort had a musical cultural theme for its floupe.
The 60-strong St. Thomas Majorettes got a big round of applause from the crowd when they performed to "Hot, Hot, Hot." Wearing orange and green satin, the girls waved orange feather fans to cool themselves off.
The Intrigue Troupe from St. Thomas carried cocktail glasses with chilled bottles of Cruzan Rum they handed out to the crowd.
V.I. Waste Management Authority Director May Adams Cornwall and her crew were passing out large garbage bags in hopes that people would use them instead of the ground.
"Bag it up," she said.
Handing out garbage bags at the St. Thomas Carnival helped with clean up, Cornwall said, so she decided to try it on St. John.
Police Commissioner James McCall said that there had only been one problem.
"It was a streaker and he ran right into my arms," he said, laughing.
Other government agencies supplied officers to augment the Police Department's staff during the July 4th Celebration, McCall said.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
