July 4 Committee Says “Thank You”
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals, organizations, volunteers, and participants who made Fairhaven’s July 4th Celebration such a tremendous success.
Community events like this don’t happen without people who are willing to give their time, talents, and energy. Even on one of the hottest days of the year, so many of you came together to help us celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and community spirit made the day one that will be remembered for years to come.
We extend our sincere thanks to Veterans Service Agent Mike Jenney; Betsey Bonds and her staff from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; Lt. Kevin Swain and the Fairhaven Police Department; Alyssa Botelho of Discover Fairhaven; Derek Frates and the staff at FairhavenTV; and the Fairhaven Emergency Management Agency. Their professionalism, and support were instrumental in ensuring a safe and successful celebration.
Special recognition goes to the members of the Fairhaven Village Militia, who were up with the sunrise cleaning the cannons, preparing Fort Phoenix, and making sure everything was ready for the day’s events. Their commitment to preserving our history and bringing it to life for the community is truly appreciated.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to Bryon Knight and the Shepherd Center for Performing Arts for sharing their exceptional musical talents, adding a memorable soundtrack to the day’s festivities.
We would also like to recognize John Medeiros, whose hard work organizing the annual Car Cruise once again made it one of the highlights of the celebration. The beautiful collection of classic and specialty vehicles drew visitors of all ages and added another special tradition to an already memorable day.
To our incredible volunteers — some of whom didn’t even realize they were volunteering until they were handed a clipboard that morning — thank you for stepping up without hesitation. Bob Quirk, Wayne Perry, Jeff Dupuis, Frank Fostin, Nils Isaksen, Nick and Lisa Oliveira, Gregg Kohler, and many others gave their time and effort wherever it was needed, and we are deeply grateful.
We also thank all of the parade participants who brought their creativity, patriotism, and community pride to the streets of Fairhaven. Your enthusiasm helped create a parade that truly reflected the spirit of our town.
Finally, to the hundreds of residents and visitors who lined the parade route, waved their flags, applauded the participants, attended the ceremony at Fort Phoenix, enjoyed the Car Cruise, and celebrated with us throughout the morning — thank you. Seeing our community come together to honor our nation’s 250th birthday was both inspiring and heartwarming.
It is a privilege to be part of a community where so many people are willing to work together to create traditions that bring us all closer. Whether you helped behind the scenes, participated in the parade, entertained the crowd, or simply came out to celebrate, please know that your support was noticed and sincerely appreciated.
Thank you for helping make Fairhaven’s July 4th Celebration one that our community will remember with pride for many years to come.
Wayne & Vicki Oliveira
Parade and Ceremony Coordinators
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