Has Syracuse lost some of its patriotism?
As we approach America’s 250th birthday this weekend, the calendar is filled with the usual Fourth of July fireworks shows and parades.
But something is lacking.
There is not a central, community-wide event, one that would bring thousands of people to Clinton Square or the Inner Harbor where we could celebrate the nation’s founding together as a group.
Like we did 50 years ago.
In 1976, America celebrated its bicentennial at a time, like today, of marked political divisions. The country was facing inflation. Watergate and the Vietnam War were not-yet-distant memories. A contentious presidential election was just months away.
And yet, on July 3, downtown Syracuse filled up with an estimated 47,000 to 50,000 people. The three-hour bicentennial Syracuse parade remains one of the largest gatherings in Onondaga County history.
Attendees arrived early, setting down lawn chairs, blankets, vying for the best vantage point, the Herald-Journal’s Dan Padavano wrote the next morning, “choosing their favorite spot on Salina Street or perhaps any open spot they could find.”
The best part of the parade was how organic it was.
“Subdued” was the word used to describe New York State’s bicentennial plans as the calendar flipped to 1976. The Empire State ranked tenth in the rankings of the original 13 colonies when it came to money spent on celebrations that summer due to budget issues.
Local governments and communities were left to make their own plans.
Syracuse’s Department of Parks and Recreation, joined by the Onondaga District Bicentennial Committee of the Masonic Order, began organizing an Independence Day parade in 1975. Originally hoped to be “five to six hours” long, plans were, thankfully, scaled back a bit.
Everyone was invited to join.
By February, 50 organizations planned to participate, including industrial, merchant, service and community groups from across the county. Many promised floats. Marching bands signed up.
“This shows the tremendous spirit the city and surrounding areas have in celebrating America’s 200th birthday,” Parks and Recreation commissioner Frank Kelly said.
Any organization, business or industry was invited.
Groups like the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Syracuse Hairdressers Association signed up for their first ever city parade – possibly because they had never been invited before.
“It’s a community parade so there will be no entry fees or prizes,” deputy commissioner of parks and recreation Joe Nicoletti said. “Downtown is going to burst wide open.”
It very nearly did.
The marching line started at 11 a.m. at the former Sears store on Salina Street and moved north towards Clinton Square. It would be two miles long with more than 120 marching units, 15 marching bands led by the “Number One Band in the Land,” the West Genesee High School band, 38 floats and a total of 3,000 participants.
Float themes ranged from 1776 to the Space Age. The Hairdressers’ float focused on famous American women hairdos. There would be clowns, dancing groups, choraliers, horses and covered wagons and antique cars.
To attract a bigger audience, the city offered free parking at meters and municipal lots. Centro offered free shuttle service from Manley Field House.
It was one of the city’s biggest events.
“With flags waving, balloons flying, children eating and everyone generally having fun, Central New Yorkers turned out to mark the 200th anniversary of our nation’s birth,” wrote reporter Paula Walker. “Excited faces could be seen from every available stretch of sidewalk as young and old alike turned out to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime affair.”
Crowds were a dozen to 20 people deep on the sidewalks.
Moments from America’s past were everywhere. George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River, Paul Revere on horseback and Benjamin Franklin were present. PEACE, Inc.’s float featured a modernized Statue of Liberty which carried the words “America’s Promise – Give Us Your Poor.”
Parade officials called the extravaganza the “largest, loudest, longest and most successful event of its kind in the city’s 160-year history.”
What made the attendance figures even more impressive: it was the second of three downtown parades in less than two months.
More than 10,000 turned out for the annual Syracuse Memorial Day parade on May 31 and then 40,000 came for the patriotic American Legion parade on July 16. The group was holding its 58th state convention in Syracuse.
The parade was as unifying as it was diverse.
It “brought together almost every type of spectator imaginable,” wrote a Herald American reporter. “A multitude of different religious, ethnic, racial, social and service groups blended their own style into the event.”
Three refugees from war-torn Lebanon were there, now proud residents of Syracuse.
“Freedom, liberty and opportunity are the most important things in this country,” one said, summing up the feeling of the day. “The individual contributions of people are spontaneous acts because they feel a deep responsibility to their country.”
Each wished to extend congratulations to Americans on the 200-year milestone with a word — ‘Mabrouk!’ — best wishes in Arabic.
During and after the parade, restaurateur Robert Lawler offered a downtown barbecue at his Clinton Street restaurant. He had a German beer garden built, hired an orchestra and served hot dogs and hamburgers, draft beer and soda from 11 a.m. to midnight.
“It seemed a shame that on such an important occasion that downtown would be empty, especially when cities are the heart of our nation,” Lawler said.
It was then and it is now.
It is a shame, and a lost opportunity, that there will not be a chance to celebrate this weekend, together, in downtown Syracuse.
We could all use some old-fashioned patriotism.