Parade Theme - 2009: "The Town That STILL Goes to Sea"
	The Grand Marshals for Thomaston's 4th of July 2009 Celebration represent the many ways in which Thomaston, Maine, is "The Town that STILL Goes to Sea". Community members representing the Coast Guard, boat building, lobstering, marine supply, & merchant marine fields will be this year's Grand Marshals. Curtis Barthel, Chief Warrant Officer and Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Station in Rockland has served for 24 years. Lobstermen Joseph Bray and Jarod Bray are a father and son team. Cabot Lyman represents Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, which has been building boats on the Thomaston waterfront since 1978, and carries on the boat building begun here over 200 years ago. Navy veteran Karl Brooks of Brooks Trap Mill, is a marine supply distributer supplying local commercial fishermen since the early 1970's. Craig Ervin is an active Merchant Marine. Finally, there is Gary Houtsma, who has served on several town committees through the years, including the 4th of July Committee. This 93 year old veteran of the Coast Guard and Navy, 30 years combined service, will be dusting off one of his uniforms to ride in the parade. Most of the Grand Marshals will be riding in "Impulse", a boat built by Lyman-Morse Boat Building, pulled on a trailer supplied by Jeff's Marine in Thomaston. The heritage of being "The Town that Went to Sea" because of its early days in the shipping trade dating to the American Revolution, has evolved into the "Town that STILL Goes to Sea". Floats on Display after the Parade The Thomaston 4th of July committee invites all floats to line up behind the business block in Thomaston, after the parade. You've done a great job, and we'd like you to have the chance to show off! Volunteers from the Explorers group will be available to show you where to park. Thank you all for your hard work - it is greatly appreciated by all!

Contact:
Julie Russo, Committee Chairman
(207)354-8763
Thomaston 4th of July Committee
P.O. Box 149
Thomaston, Maine 04861