Dozens of people attended Thursday’s ceremony and escaped the summer heat inside the Hampton Ponds Association Hall. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The Hampton Ponds Association (HPA) hosted a ceremony for the city in the Hampton Ponds Association Hall following the 63rd annual Fourth of July parade Thursday morning.
The ceremony began with a welcoming statement by HPA President Susan McFarlin, who acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the holiday event. She talked about the importance of the HPA to the community and thanked all of those who helped out on Thursday and year round.
“The HPA is so important because of the funds we raise to provide college-bound children with scholarship, which these days is so desperately needed,” said McFarlin.
McFarlin then turned the microphone over to state Parade Grand Marshal Rep. John Velis. Velis talked about the parade, and noted that he is not going to “live down” having sat on top of a car rather than walking the parade with his fellow dignitaries, including city councilors and Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, in the heat.
Velis recently completed a tour with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. HPA representatives said that this was the main reason for his being chosen as grand marshal for the day. This was his first Independence Day since returning from tour. He talked at length about how he had been promoted to major from captain on the Fourth of July last year. Velis also spread a message of unity against the divisiveness that has taken hold of the country in recent times.
“We kind of live in an interesting time in that it’s very divided and there’s a lot of things going on right now,” said Velis, “In my humble opinion, the best way to push back on that and show your patriotism, what this nation stands for, what we’re all about, is by having parades like this.”
Following Velis’ speech was the National Anthem sung by Carol Labrie Barcomb, who also sang “Proud to be an American.” An opening prayer was led by Barbara Giroux.
The main event of the ceremony was the presentation of the scholarships. The HPA handed out five scholarships to soon-to-be college students in the area. The first scholarship was the Robert Clark Jr. Scholarship. It went to Westfield High School graduate, Mackenzie Kone, who will soon be attending Endicott College.
The next scholarship was the Past President Scholarship from the HPA. It was given to Brianna Shvetsov, a WHS graduate who will be going to Holyoke Community College.
The Granny Anny Wilmost Scholarship was given to Sara Liptak, a graduate of Westfield Technical Academy who will be attending Westfield State University.
The Mariel R. Fini Memorial Scholarship, given by the Fini Family and the Hampton Ponds Association, was given to Ian Beauregard. Beauregard is a graduate of Holyoke High School who will be attending the University of Hartford.
The final scholarship that was given out was the Nelson “Ray” and Jean Dionne Memorial Scholarship. This year is the inaugural year of this scholarship, and was given out by Robert Dionne. Dionne talked about his parents, his father, Ray and his mother, Jean.
Robert Dionne spoke about how his parents were very involved in the community at Hampton Ponds, and were always present in the planning of the parade each year. He then announced that the scholarship would go to Rebecca Dionne, who graduated from Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School and will be attending the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
McFarlin then announced the winners of various awards of different categories including best float, best color guard, and best antique car. Sullivan and state-Sen. Donald F. Humason, Jr., thanked the city and everyone who helped organize the events.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of “America the Beautiful” on the bagpipes by a member of the Springfield Kilpees bagpipe group.
