This is an informal parade and the crowd's easy and immediately appreciative. I had a chance to walk along the staging area. I watched as the Chief of Police busily checked his watch and alerted the Scottish bag piper and the honor guard of the VFW that they would start promptly at 11:00. At five to 11:00, he radioed all of his patrolmen with orders to seal off the parade route and turn on their flashing lights and sirens. Everyone cheered. The parade would begin on time and the Chief would be a hero again this year.