STOCKHOLM, Maine — With the temperature well into the 80s and bright sunshine beating down, spectators lined the streets of Stockholm to celebrate the United States’ 237th birthday in classic style for the town’s annual Fourth of July parade.
“Classic” was the theme for this year’s event as the lineup was filled with cars, pickups and tractors that spanned from a 1930 Roadster to an early ‘80s model Jeep.
Stockholm native Molly Bouchard served as the parade’s grand marshal. Miss Maine 2012 soon found herself trailing behind the 1950s Ford Fairlane she was originally riding in, however, as the heat may have gotten the best of the red and white beauty’s engine and it decided to quit.
With true Aroostook County grit, Bouchard, in her tiara and heels, climbed down off her perch and helped push the vehicle along the route, laughing and waving to the crowd.
After the parade, the country’s birthday celebration continued in the parking lot of the American Legion for barbecued burgers and hot dogs and strawberry shortcake prepared by members of the Legion and its auxiliary.
It was the picture of American small town life at its finest, a scene even Norman Rockwell may not have been able to do justice.
