THANK YOU!
On behalf of the Willingboro July 4th Celebration Committee, we would like to express our sincerest appreciation for the many residents, churches, businesses and others who helped transform an ambitious dream into a festive celebration of our nation’s 233rd birthday.
Dubbed the Celebration of Patriotism and Family, the event was a planned alternative to the annual July 4th parade that had been held in Willingboro since 1966 but had to be canceled due to municipal budget cuts. Given the somber economic climate existing in Willingboro and throughout the nation and personal stress levels increasing with each passing day, we felt the absence of a July 4th celebration was simply unacceptable.
With nature’s generous cooperation of providing us with beautiful weather on Saturday, the hundreds of families and visitors who celebrated on the parking lot at the Grand Marketplace - which had been transformed into a large outdoor, festive party venue - enjoyed free hot dogs, sodas, popcorn, gifts, games and rides for children, lively music, a fantastic magic show and scores of vendors who sold a range of wares to a purchasing public. Also, a fun pie-eating contest was hotly waged by children and adult competitors alike.
The highlight of the day occurred when New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine welcomed the public to the celebration, participated in reciting the U.S. Declaration of Independence with other local elected officials, and, for the first time in Willingboro’s history, signed a legislative bill into law.
While we could have used a lot more help and cooperation with this event, we all feel the day represented a fantastic beginning to what we feel will become an annual celebration fully supported by all residents and businesses in Willingboro in the future, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars annually.
Specific thank you’s are extended to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Beneficial Bank, Delco Development Corp., the Willingboro Democratic Committee and Club and the Grand Marketplace who served as celebration co-sponsors. We also wish to thank Rite Aid, Golden Dawn Restaurant, Acme, Shop Rite, Sleepy’s, Home Depot, Lowes, Dodge City, Arby’s, Walgreens, Burlington County Times, American Legion Post 336 of Burlington City, the Willingboro Recreation Department and the many people who volunteered at the event.
Thank you, thank you and thank you!
Wayne Browne and Pat Lindsay-Harvey
