Four floats and 17 groups have confirmed participation in the 2011 Fourth of July Parade, one of the biggest community events of the year.<\/p>\n
The theme for this year\u2019s celebration is \u201cA Band of Arms Liberating Communities to Freedom, The Island Way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The four groups competing in the float contest are the Choll A. Beluu Cultural Dance Group, the Palau CNMI Community Association, KKMP, and the Tanapag Church Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese groups will compete for three cash prizes: $2,000 for first prize, $1,500 for second prize, and $1,000 for third prize,\u201d said Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office staff Donald Crisostomo, who chairs this year\u2019s Parade Committee.<\/p>\n
The 17 parade group marchers include the New Generation, Korean Community of Saipan, multiple JROTC units, Little League of Saipan, Falun Dafa, Saipan Awaodori, Chuukese Community, Coca Cola, CNMI Boy Scouts of America, Domatsuri Group and the Japanese Society, Matua Riders, American Red Cross NMI Chapter, Football Association, ATV Association, Man\u2019amko King and Queen, the Seventh-Day Adventist Pathfinder Club, and the Saipan Music and Dance group.<\/p>\n
The parade will start at 10am. The northbound lane of Beach Road from the Quartermaster intersection up to Bank of Guam will be closed as early as 7am.<\/p>\n
Crisostomo disclosed that Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores has already selected the parade marshal for each of the four islands.<\/p>\n
They are former CNMI Military and Veterans Affairs executive officer Ruth Coleman for Saipan; Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz for Tinian; Mayor Melchor Mendiola for Rota; and Daniel O. Kaipat for the Northern Islands.<\/p>\n
Crisostomo noted that there are fewer participants in this year\u2019s parade and float competition.<\/p>\n
\u201c[We\u2019re] trying to make it a grand parade but the economy has turned from bad to worse. People are struggling and we can\u2019t force them to participate in the parade,\u201d he told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n
Still, Crisostomo said they are doing their best to ensure that the community will enjoy this year\u2019s festivities despite the challenges.<\/p>\n
He added that there is a possibility of an aircraft flyover during Monday\u2019s parade, which they will confirm within the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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