Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — It was estimated the Ontonagon Labor Festival Parade Sunday broke all records with crowds three and four deep along River Street. Perfect weather and a reputation for “home-grown, special floats” added to the enthusiasm of the crowd.
The three stage float of the Norwich Country Club won the float competition at the Ontonagon Labor Day Festival Parade. The country club float was titled the Summer of 1969. The first part was titled Peace and Love with its Woodstock theme. The second depicted the moon launch. A giant rocket raised and lowered and at its peak made the moon shot. The third section showed the landing on the moon.
In second place was the Ontonagon Golf Club with its wild west depiction, covered wagon, saloon and depiction of a western robbery with appropriate change of music.
Third place entry was a large pirate ship with large sails and side paddles.
The Marine Corp Iwo Jima float was fourth and live sauna by the Lynn family was fifth.
The youth division was won by The Tucker Family with second place winner the Robotics Team and Ontonagon County Princesses Fair Royality.
Winning the Commercial Division was “The Wizard of Oz” themed and “There’s No Place Like Home” by Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital-Long Term Care.
Other additions were Henry’s Inn Woodstock 1969-Rockstock 2019, Margarita Girls, Smokey the Bear, National Forest, MI-TRALE and both the Democrats and Republican floats, and the RICC groups “We advocate for compete free transportation, employment, housing, bullying prevention and adult advocacy.”
The parade was led by the VFW Color Guard, followed by the members of the Ontonagon County Veterans Association and the DAV van. Participating also in the parade was U.S. Congressman Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet.
That was followed by the parade marshals Dave and Jan Tucker. The Tuckers were presented with flowers all along the parade route.
Following the parade there was a special presentation by Bergman. As a large contingent of Ontonagon County Veterans stood at attention, the congressman read a congressional Resolution to the Ontonagon County Veterans Association.
The resolution honored the “decades of success and service to veterans of the Upper Peninsula.” It included operation of the DAV van and the many military rites performed for all veterans. The resolution was accepted by Ontonagon County Veterans Commander Don Bussiere.
