A big feature of any parade is the string of fire apparatus that usually comes at the tail end of the parade. Fire departments have always been a key component of any parade and that is especially true in Willimantic. Many Windham area residents may remember the more than 100 pieces of apparatus in the fire department parade after “Operation Willimantic Plan” in 1953. At the Loyalty Day parade of 1964 fire departments provided the second largest number of marchers, with the sponsoring VFW having the most. Even better than a fire department participating in a parade is the fire department sponsoring a parade. Becoming more popular every year are the Christmas lighted fire apparatus parades. The Willimantic Fire Department has, for well over 100 years, been well-known for its participation in and sponsoring of parades. By 1885, the fire department was holding annual parades and inviting departments from other towns to attend. For example, at the 1885 parade, “The Alerts” Hose Company of Willimantic invited “The Nameaugs” Engine Company of New London and several bands. For many years, “The Excelsiors” Hook and Ladder Company held a wildly successful annual carnival and that always opened with a parade, usually led by the Mayor and several other dignitaries and, of course, bands. The 1903 annual parade was held as a two day Labor Day affair with “The Konomocs” Engine Company of New London as special guests. The Firemen’s Parade was part of the celebration and all of the companies participated. Local government leaders joined in the march as well. Each company sported brand new uniforms and the hose carriages were appropriately decorated and the huge parade weaved back and forth throughout the city. Because Willimantic Fire Department members were so enthusiastic about parades and because they decorated their equipment so lavishly, they were often invited to parades in other towns. Newspaper accounts of the time offered rave reviews of the Alert's Hose Wagon and the spectacular way in which it was decorated. The Alerts would decorate it in a different fashion for each parade and frequently traveled to other towns for parades. For one trip to New London to participate, the Alerts were escorted to a special train by the Alerts Veterans Corps, their specially decorated hose wagon, the police and, naturally, a marching band. In 1930, Albert Colgrove, who grew up in Willimantic and later became postmaster in Waterbury,  reminisced about the ‘old time firemens parades’.” As kids, we would follow them all over town and for days afterwards we would argue as to which band was best and whether ‘The Alerts’,’The Hooks’ or ‘The Montgomeries’ had made the nicest showing. I lived just around the corner from Jackson Street and to say anything uncomplimentary about the Montgomery Hose Company was like asking for a fight. Therefore, we had to use discretion when singing the praises of either the Alerts or the Excelsiors. But when the Alert Hose Company boys stepped out on parade, wearing their cream-colored parade blouses and drawing by hand their flower bedecked hose truck, I doubted if any finer appearing men could be found anywhere in the entire U.S.A.”  In the 1960s, several fire department members became involved in parades in a new way. They would dress as clowns and attend parades. Willimantic Fire Fighters are seen here preparing to participate in Town of Lebanon's Parade. From left to right in today’s photo are Robert Theriault, Larry Lemire, Congressman Robert Steele, Paul Bachand, Anthony Santa Lucia, Robert Pisicitello, kneeling, Joseph “Al” Beaulieu. Firefighters Nick Lucas, Ed Lussier, Jimmy Connell, Rick Nadeau and even Chief Monzillo also dressed as clowns and delighted the spectators. The fire fighters/clowns participated in numerous parades and events to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association.