Holiday parade a dazzling display of community unity

Daisies from Troop 60557 and Brownies from Troop 60590 were all wrapped up as presents. Photos by D. Coffey.

Grove Street in Putnam was lined with flatbeds, hay wagons, trucks pulling trailers, a convoy of jeeps and antique cars on the afternoon of Nov. 24. From 3 p.m. on, participants in Putnam's 11th annual Holiday Dazzle parade readied for the extravaganza that kicks off the holiday season.

Karen Rowley and Lynn Biesiadecki combed the tails of their shorthorn dairy cows before decorating them in Christmas garb. Bob Bisbee with Yankee Yesteryear Car Club strung LED necklaces on the hubs of his 1929 Ford Model A. Dr. Cynthia Smith of Putnam Animal Hospital and a crew of friends kept watch over 12 marching dogs. Joseph Briere of the VFW Post 1523 readied his honor guard to lead the parade.

Just before 5 p.m., Gary Osbrey and his wildly-lit WINY wagon moved slowly up through the contingent of 136 floats. With lights covering every inch of his car, icicles decorating his windshield, silver Christmas trees on his front bumper and a generator powering it all, he rallied his parade troops.

At the appointed time, the parade set off. With honor guards from the VFW Post 1523 and American Legion Post 13 and a contingent of floats from Pomfret leading the way, a dazzling display of community unity started out on a 1.5-mile route. Thanksgiving was over. It was time for the holiday season to begin.