Tuckerton celebrates the 4th of July

I love my community. This Saturday, July 3d, 2010, Tuckerton is going to celebrate the independence of America. No where is "grand old flag" sung with more passion than here in my town. My town is Little Egg Harbor and it surrounds the Borough of Tuckerton by land. We host Memorial Day and Veterans Day with parades down Radio Road and Twin Lakes Blvd in the Mystic Island section of our community. We have representatives of Bass River (New Gretna) to the south and Eagleswood (West Creek) to the north.

Those are the towns that share the school services of Pinelands Regional School District - two schools set to further the education of our children from 7th grade to 9th grade and 10th grade to 12th grade. It is in this community that we still speak of and honor GOD. We celebrate Christmas, not Winter. When the school holds one of its two annual plays, it is not unusual to have complete sell out of available tickets some nights.

During the annual Fish Off the whole town gets excited and grown men talk about the previous year winner has if they had reached some hero status. And, how if they had only caught the fish they had caught the previous week on that day it would be them that won the prize. They talk of points out at sea where only those salt water in their veins can find as if they were as recognizable as the corner store at the traffic light. Brand names of charts and poles with their respective reels are as important as the Nikes on your feet.

Tuckerton is the center of our land mass. It is often referred to as Clam Town USA. It is the place where we shut down part of the state highway system (Route 9) to march and carry the American flag in honor of all those men and women who gave all to make us a free nation. There will be floats hand crafted from local churches, children in Karate outfits throwing kicks and punches to an invisible foe, the volunteer fire fights and medics, the police, local businesses throwing out candy for the audience lined down the street waving and cheering on their friends, family and children. You will see the pets wearing the red, white and blue. Children being pushed in wagons going by the crowd waving as if they were the only ones in the parade. You will see neighbors driving antique cars they have hidden in the garage 364 days a year. It will be a grand olde time. 

The best part of this celebration is - you're invited! The parade starts at 10AM from the Village Shoppes Parking lot down Route 9. The best seats are along the street near Lake Pohatcong where there is a yearly Learn to Fish with our Hooked on Fishing NOT Drugs Day. Then it is a short walk to Tip Seaman Park where there will be a lot to do while waiting for the fireworks to light up the night sky. If you can't make it there is a list of other Jersey Shore events that may be closer to you list at my other Blog Post. See the short video of one of our past July 4th celebrations below: