Parade

The patriotic souls of the Catonsville Celebrations Committee come up with a new reason every year to prevent a group of gay and lesbian veterans from marching in the local Fourth of July parade.With each passing year and each new reason, the committee serves painful reminders of how little it understands the concepts of equality and freedom that are honored on Independence Day.A county law passed before the 1992 celebration required permits for parades, thus granting control of the events to their organizers.

THE CALL COMES every year like clockwork, some time during the last week of July."Just reminding you -- the Arcadia parade's next week." says the caller, with more excitement in his voice than you would expect, given the scale of the event being announced.He is an old friend, married to a high school classmate, with whom I've shared proms and weddings, news of new babies and new homes. We don't see each other much any more, although we live separated by five little miles; even the once-routine holiday get-together has become a casualty of busy schedules and commitments to other people.

Baltimore traffic officials are closing several downtown streets Wednesday for a Shriner's parade that is scheduled to begin at Camden Yards at 7 p.m. The parade will follow the same route as the Shriner's parade Monday, but will be shorter in duration. From the ballpark, the parade will go north on Paca Street, east on Pratt Street to Market Place, where it will disband. Pratt Street will be closed between Paca Street and President Street from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Also, two lanes of northbound Russell Street will be closed from Lee Street to Pratt Street during that time, and parking will be restricted along Baltimore Street.

Glen Burnie will have to wait at least until 1995 to get its Macy's-style Preakness parade.The Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce is abandoning plans for a May 15 parade, saying it has no sponsor for the $250,000 event, could not organize it in time and had not worked out traffic matters.Because of the interest many businesses showed in the prospect of a parade in Glen Burnie, however, the group left open the prospect of trying again next spring.The decision to abandon plans for this year was announced late yesterday afternoon.

What began as an effort to speed up Baltimore's Preakness Parade has grown into an angry dispute between the parade's out-of-town producer and some of the city's black marching bands."

This year's annual Preakness Celebration will include the usual array of pre-race activities, including concerts, footraces and family events. But the 2004 schedule, announced yesterday, includes one major change: After 30 years on Pratt Street, the parade that traditionally kicks off the weeklong festival will follow a new route - through Baltimore's revamped west side. Preakness Celebration Executive Director Terry Romanoli said the planning organization changed the event's route because it wanted the yearly spectacle to showcase this newly revitalized section of the city.

The 20th annual Pimlico Preakness Celebration parade began last night under a downpour that had spectators scurrying for shelter under umbrellas, tarps and tablecloths, under awnings and plastic garbage bags.But by the parade's end 2 1/2 hours later, the rain had tapered off and the show concluded with a fireworks display that lit up a hazy sky over the Inner Harbor.The parade stepped off at 6:15 p.m. and made its way along Charles Street to the Inner Harbor.Hardy spectators, sparse along Charles Street but lining Pratt Street by the hundreds, braved the chilly downpour to enjoy bands, drill teams, clowns and balloons.

Parades are as much a part of Memorial Day tradition in Carroll County as graveside and chapel services.As usual, parades in Westminster, Taneytown and Union Bridge attracted hundreds of countians.Like Monday's memorial services, this year's parades contained special meaning. Veterans from Operation Desert Storm joined other veterans in marching down main streets. Taneytown dedicated its parade asa "Thank you" to its sons and daughters who served in the Persian Gulf.Unlike the solemnness of memorial services, parades offered residents an upbeat opportunity to demonstrate patriotism.

Baltimore's third annual parade in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place Monday, with "Keeping the Faith" as its theme, Mayor Martin O'Malley announced yesterday. The parade will begin at noon - regardless of the weather - and proceed along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from Eutaw to Baltimore streets, lasting about two hours, organizers said. The reviewing stand will be at Franklin Street. The parade will feature a tribute to Clarence H. Du Burns, the first black mayor of Baltimore, who died Sunday.

Maryland-bred Sackville Parade, a 96-1 shot, finished first in the fifth race yesterday at Pimlico, winning the $25,000 race for maidens by a length over favorites Star Creek (2-1) and Private Anoush (3-1) in a field of nine horses at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. Sackville Parade, a 3-year-old son of Horatius, was ridden by apprentice Stephen Michael. Trained by Kevin Crimmins, the colt was running in only his second race in Maryland. Sackville Parade paid $194.60 to win. The 5-3 exacta paid $571.