Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Good Shepherd Sisters)
The library has a large collection of photographs of this parade as well as the archives of the committee that planned the parade. View the entire collection.
Following the end of the Lawrence textile Strike of 1912, the Industrial Workers of the World orchestrated a demonstration throughout the streets of the city proclaiming “No God, No Master!” The story was that demonstrators trampled the American flag. The city answered the IWW with its own public display of faith and patriotism. The first God and Country Parade was called the Flag Day parade and took place on Columbus Day (October 12, 1912) of that fall proclaiming the theme “For God and Country!” 32,000 people participated on that rainy October day.
Candidate Edward Kennedy
50 years later the city reaffirmed their patriotism and fear of God in an anniversary parade. On September 23, 1962 200,000 watched and 25,000 participated The parade included floats, marching bands, military, school, church, and fraternal groups, politicians and civic organizations.
Filed under: G Tagged: | "For God and country", "No god, Edward Kennedy, God & Country Parade, Good Shepherd Sisters, Lawrence MA, no master", Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart opf Mary
I marched in the 1962 God and Country parade. i was 12 years old and i was in the Tarbox school. They told us that they would look for us in fifty years for the next one
I was fortunate enough to March with the Lawrence
Chieftains Drum and Bugle Corps for the 1962 God and
Country Parade. It was a day I will always remember .
I too marched in the 1962 parade, I was 11 years old. I remember it very well. Only when I went to college did I learn the truth about the 1912 strike. On January 12 of 2012, I marched with the Lawrence History Center commemorating the Bread and Roses strike. It was a proud moment.
[...] Posts God and Country Parade 1962 (Lawrence, MA)Essex Street (Lawrence, MA)Churches (Lawrence, MA)Lawrence Public Library Special CollectionsFriends [...]
I too marched in the God and Country parade as a member of the Columbian Squires drill team from the Methuen K of C and found the picture of the team in the archives. Looking at the pics I am amazed at the size of the crowds watching and how they are all dressed in their finest attire.
I rode on the float in the 1962 parade entered by New England Telephone
I marched in the parade as a member of the Lawrence Chieftains Drum & Bugle Corps. What a shame it isn’t going to happen in 2012.
I just found I have a 8mm home movie of this parade (including kennedy walking in it an waving to crowd)
I would love to see this movie! Is there a way it can be viewed?
I have not posted it any where yet. I was researching it when I found this site.
Mark – You might want to check out the Mingya Valley site on Facebook it has postings of all things historic and personal regarding Lawrence Methuen and other Valley cities and towns and if you join the site you could post the film. The site is great fun.