LYNNFIELD — Just hours after a line of severe thunderstorms swept through the area Friday night, the sun came out just in time Saturday morning for Lynnfield residents to celebrate their first responders and essential workers with the Better Days Ahead parade.
More than 50 automobiles, ambulances, fire trucks and police cruisers took part in the parade, many of them decorated with signs, American flags and balloons. Even the Easter Bunny got in on the action, waving to the crowd from the back of a pickup truck adorned with a sign that read, “Thank you 01940.”
Officer Marco DePalma provided a police escort, leading the slow-moving convoy through the town’s streets, much to the delight of many onlookers who showed their support by cheering, waving and displaying signs with messages of hope, love and thanks. Many of the homes along the parade route, which began at the Lynnfield Middle School, sported decorated windows, sidewalks, driveways and doors in support.
Lynnfield resident Emily Ciulla, an occupational therapist at Devereux House Skilled Nursing and Care facility in Marblehead, along with her three children Kendall, Alex and Kaylee, sister-in-law Kristen Ciulla and Kristen’s children Daniela and Paul, observed the parade from the Post Office parking lot.
When asked why they were there, Emily Ciulla said, “to get out of the house, show our support and see our cousins.”
Kristen Ciulla had a special reason to be there.
“My husband Dan is a firefighter stationed here at the Post Office Square firehouse and he is on Engine 1, so I wanted our kids to be able to see their dad,” she said.
Lynnfield Selectman Chris Barrett was grateful to the people who came out in support, posting a message of thanks on his Facebook page.
“THANK YOU to everyone who came out today to celebrate and thank our First Responders and Essential Workers for the Better Days Ahead Parade,” wrote Barrett. “The Pioneers always come out to celebrate what is best about our community. There had to be close to a 1,000 people along the parade route celebrating the Blue & Gold. A day like today reminds all of us that there will always be a bright dawn ahead for the Town of Lynnfield. Better Days are certainly ahead! GO PIONEERS!!!.”
Barrett, along with fellow residents Gerry Noumi and Joel Steiner, organized the parade.
“We were discussing how birthday (and elementary school) parades are the one ray of sunshine during this pandemic,” said Barrett. “We saw what they did for those being celebrated and, just as important, what it did for the many people in the cars helping to celebrate. Everyone had smiles on their faces and were enjoying the moment. That’s when we thought about the idea of doing a community parade — A Better Days Ahead Parade — to celebrate and honor our front line and essential workers. They all deserve to be celebrated and this parade (was) our opportunity to not only celebrate them, but also lift our community spirits. This day reminds us that there is always a bright dawn ahead.”
