As I marched in the Milltown Fourth of July Parade, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people that lined our streets to view the parade. The smiles, waves and words of encouragement from friends and supporters were certainly welcome, as was the water and lemonade that was being handed out by residents along the parade route. Once again, we all witnessed that "Milltown Magic" that has become synonymous with our Fourth of July celebration.

Another symbol that is synonymous with Independence Day is the American flag. It seemed that there were thousands of them in and around Milltown on the Fourth. As I gazed at those flags, I saw what is important to me as well as all the residents of Milltown.

I saw the red in the flags, and it reminded me of the brilliant red fire trucks that snaked their way through our streets - each one gleaming in the midday sun with polished chrome shining and friendly faces waving to the crowd. One sight that I won't soon forget is the members of the Milltown Fire Department, in their full-dress uniforms, marching up Van Liew Avenue, being led by the Middlesex County Fife and Drum Corps. The sights and sounds of the band, marchers and apparatus sent chills down my spine.

The white in the flag represented the white jumpsuits and crisp white shirts of the Milltown Rescue Squad. These men and women proudly marched in the parade, yet cared for hundreds of marchers who wilted in the heat. Their presence in the park as thousands had fun is a testament to their loyalty and dedication. A town could not be served with greater distinction.

In the color blue I saw the Milltown Police Department. These brave men, as always, are ever-vigilant in their mission to ensure our well-being and to keep this town safe. Despite the great number of spectators, every officer I spoke to had time to shake my hand, compliment my committee on what a great job it was doing, and offer their support. It is human nature to take things for granted. Let's not forget that they are the "thin blue line" that separates us from those who would do us harm. To a man, the Milltown Police Department deserves our respect.

One color that is not on the flag but was prevalent all day was orange. The orange shirts of our Public Works and Utility Department employees were everywhere. I cannot thank them enough for their enthusiasm and willingness to help the members of my committee with any request we had. The success of this day is in large part due to the department's tireless efforts to ensure everything was just right. I think we almost have it down to a science. I would like to especially acknowledge Ralph Jasionowski. On his first "big" assignment as supervisor, he handled all the bumps in the road like a veteran. I'm confident that our town is in good hands for years to come.

Last, but certainly not least, are the stars on the flag. While our country's flag has 50 stars, Milltown has 15 - they represent the members of the Fourth of July Committee. As chairman, I cannot be prouder of these men and women, who take time away from their families to plan, organize and ensure that this event runs as smoothly as possible. They shine brighter than any of the majestic fireworks that illuminate the sky over Milltown, not only on the Fourth, but all year. If nothing else, they deserve a big thank you from every member of our community.

In closing, I would like to point out once again that this special day in our town would not be possible without the generosity and community spirit of the businesses and residents that believe in the Fourth of July Committee. Small "mom-and-pop" stores such as J's Sweetshop (in business only a few months) and larger businesses such as Silver Line Building Products (after being attacked) exhibited tremendous community spirit by not only donating once again, but as usual, opening up their facilities to help stage our large contingent of firefighting apparatus for the parade. These are only two examples of the many wonderful sponsors that care enough about our community to make this day become a reality.

Thanks to each and every one of you.

Randy Farkas

chairman

Milltown Fourth of July Committee