‘Little Toot’ owner Joseph Varga featured but not as before
By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
This year, the 2014 Patriotic Day parade was bittersweet for Joseph Varga.
After 37 years of driving his mechanized train in the parade, he saw his “Little Toot” placed upon a cart to be pulled along the route while he was chauffeured in a convertible as the grand marshal.
A member of the U.S. Marine Corps., the 87-year-old grew up in the Roebling section of town before moving to Florence Township in 1951.
”It’s an honor,” Mr. Varga said of being chosen as grand marshal of the parade.
His son, Christian Varga, of Florence, said preparing for the event each year is stressful but in the end is worth it and a “very nice” experience for his entire family.
The parade began at noon at Front and Oak streets and proceeded along Broad Street to Ninth Street. Behind Mr. Varga and “Little Toot” came a long procession of veterans, musicians, and floats by community organizations and local businesses.
The South Jersey Drum and Bugle Corps. performed as did the Florence High School Marching Band and the Trenton AOH Pipe Band. The parade also featured the Florence Township Library, American Legion Commander Post 194, Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Post 39, Florence Township Republican Party, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Florence Flashes Football, Sterling House, Investors Bank, New Jersey Elks, St. Paul School, Nook’s Pourhouse, Boyd’s Pharmacy and three generations of Wainwright farmers on tractors. There were also fire apparatus in the parade driven by members of the Jacobstown Fire Co. and the Florence Township Fire Department.
Prior to the parade there was a flag-raising ceremony held at the Oak Street Circle, with military members and veterans in attendance.
After the parade a concert and food court were held at the Water Works Field next to the municipal complex from 6-9 p.m. Fireworks over Veterans Park ended the celebration.