The East Orange Unified Marching Band arrived in
Lincoln Park, Newark, NJ about 12:00 noon, ready to march and
perform. As they assembled in the cool shade of the park, little
did they know that the start of the parade would be delayed about
two hours.
Photo by Rasheem Franklin
The band spent their waiting time exercising and
practicing in one of the near-by parking lots which served as a
staging area.
Photo by Rasheem Franklin
Even after the band moved into position on the
street, there was still a long delay while the other parade units
got into position. The band was undeterred and simply played for
the people on the sidewalk and the other units who were also
waiting for the parade to begin.
Photo by Rasheem Franklin
When the parade finally got under way, bringing
up the rear of the Marching Band was Mr. Goode's car, transformed
into an "instant float" and bearing the Cicely Tyson
Community School Banner.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
The parade was hours late by the time they made
it from Lincoln Park at the south end of Broad Street to Military
Park at the north end. This is what we saw as the parade
approached Military Park. The parade was led by two mounted
officers from the Newark Police Department, followed by ten (or
so) officers on motorcycles. Newark's finest were also stationed
at every corner along the parade route, keeping traffic moving
whenever the parade paused.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
Next came the parade marshals. I don't know any
names, so we'll need some help from the parade's organizers if
they want to fill in the blanks here.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
I'm guessing that the actor on the white horse
in the foreground represented Toussaint L'Ouverture, but I'm sure Toussaint
never wore sun-glasses, so perhaps I'm wrong. Anyway, everyone
loved the horses and the costumes and the music in the
background.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
This float was dated January 12, 2010, the date
Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake, but the message of
the float is "Rebuild and Restore."
Photo by Jim Gerrish
The next float was a "Salute to the Haitian
Community from the Newark Municipal Council." It featured a
DJ and dancers.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
At last came the marching unit that we had been
awaiting for hours, the East Orange Unified Marching Band. The
band staff and the band parents wear red uniforms.
Just so you can put names to the backs of these
staff members, L to R is Rasheem Franklin, Percussion Instructor,
Kevin Lyons, Associate Band Director, and Frederick Goode, Band
Director. How Rasheem managed to take the photo and be in it at
the same time, I have no idea, but I suspect he had help.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
At the end of the parade, the band took a sudden
right turn off Broad Street into Military Park. The Haitian
Parade continued for several more marching units behind them, but
I am sure others will have photos of the entire event; our focus
was on our East Orange Unified Marching Band, as usual.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
The band marched right through Military Park and
onto the waiting buses for the ride back to East Orange. They
were tired, but happy the parade was over and happy to have been
a part of such an historic event.
