SOUTHERN OCEAN CO.

Barnegat Light parade celebrates the 4th on the 1st

STEVE MORAN

The Independence Day parade in Barnegat Light featured a flock of seagulls last Saturday.

The Simpson family wearing wings and homemade gull hats with big eyes and bright beaks, “flew” around one family member wearing a replica of the top of Barnegat Lighthouse on his head.

Their costumes won them the first prize as the Best Decorated Walkers.

They weren’t the only ones to show their creativity in this year’s 4th of July parade.

There were kids dressed as crabs and skateboarders with grass skirts and even Uber showed up with an escort.

Zach Ostrowski wearing star-studded blue shorts and a red shirt fhad donned an American Eagle mask and paraded next to the Uber wagon pulled by his wife, Ashley. His three-month-old son, Carter, was asleep for part of the event, riding in back of the “driver,” 10-month-old Johnny Flood.

They took home the top prize for Best Float.

Friends from 29th Street in the borough even made T-shirts to celebrate the event.

The parade was led by the Color Guard from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light followed by Liberty Band from Cinnaminson playing patriotic tunes and rousing Sousa marches.

They were followed by dozens of children on bikes, scooters, and skateboards covered in red, white and blue, and all competing for the best-decorated trophies

They were all judged as were the floats and walkers by Mary Lou Brindley and Janet Ostberg as they passed by the bayfront gazebo at the end of the parade route.

The sounds of sirens and horns punctuated the music as fire engines and other emergency vehicles from most LBI towns followed the classic cars to end the parade.

As the color guard stood at attention, Mayor Kirk Larsen led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem.

After a few comments and saying this was the “best parade on the Island,” he turned the mike over to Councilman Scott Sharpless to hand out the awards.

There were multiple ties for first, second and third place, but only one trophy for each.

Sharpless told the winners not to wrestle over who got it, as he would collect the names of multiple winners and make sure they each got one. He then turned the event over to the Liberty Band’s leader who led the band in a few more tunes as everyone posed for one more photo or selfie before heading out to continue their celebrations at home.