Members of Haddonfield American Legion Post 38 march in step while carrying American, state and military-related flags on the 4th of July.
Haddonfield commemorated the 4th of July on Kings Highway with a day of festivities that began with a 10 a.m. parade.
The procession started at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Kings Highway and ended at Haddonfield Memorial High School. Borough residents lined the streets, wearing festive clothing and hats and holding American flags.
The parade included veterans from Haddonfield American Legion Post 38, who marched in step and rode in convertible cars, holding flags and waving to the crowds.
Mayor Dave Siedell and commissioners Frank Troy and Itir Cole also took part in the parade, walking alongside each other and greeting residents. Local Boy and Girl Scouts troops held banners and flags as they marched behind and in front of the veterans.
Haddonfield’s police and fire departments were also in attendance to drive multiple emergency vehicles. Haddon Craftsmen had a float designed to look like a fire truck in a tribute to Los Angeles firefighters.
Other local groups that took part were the Rotary and Haddonfield Lions clubs, with citizen of the year Maureen Eyles, and Haddon Fortnightly members who dressed in animal onesies to raise awareness of endangered species. The parade ended with a procession of antique cars.
The borough continued the festivities with a block party on Kings Highway sponsored by Fulton Bank. Free face painting was available in Kings Court, with a stage set up for live music at one end of the blocked-off highway. Games included an inflatable football toss with an Eagles player, basketball throwing, an inflatable obstacle course for kids and classic carnival games like a bottle toss station.
The noon hot dog-eating contest took place in front of Kings Court with 15 participants, including the mayor. Cole and Troy – with Eyles – judged the event.
The main rule was, “You heave, you leave,” meaning participants had to keep the dogs they scarfed down from coming back up. Prizes included gift cards to various borough establishments. Reigning champ Dave Goldstein maintained his title from the last two years with a total of 16-and-a-half hot dogs in 10 minutes.
“It feels great,” Goldstein enthused. “I love coming out here on the 4th of July and doing what we’re supposed to do – eat hot dogs and celebrate and be a part of this great community. I used to be a mailman here for 16 years. I love being out here and being a part of it and eating dogs.”
Goldstein’s professional eating career includes downing 30 hot dogs, but it’s now a more casual pursuit.
“I don’t have that kind of capacity anymore,” he acknowledged, “so what I do now is on pure adrenaline and no training.”
Troy saw the competition up close as one of the judges; he monitored and scored five contestants.
“It was a great, well attended event,” he noted. “We were lucky that we got the rain last night, because it dropped the temperature significantly, dropped the humidity significantly. So it seemed like everyone was really enjoying it – lots of kids, lots of adults. It wasn’t too sweltering hot like we’ve had in the past.
“So I think it became a perfect day.”
The day’s eating contests included a pie-eating competition that also drew spectators. Cherry, apple and blueberry pie slices were set up in front of each contestant’s chair to represent the colors of the American flag. John Matuire got the win, and leftover pie went to people in the crowd.
A kids’ cookie-eating competition had to be split into two parts to give everyone a chance to compete. Cole watched the contest and helped distribute cookies to the contestants.
“For me, it’s my first one, so I had an excellent time,” she reported. “And I especially enjoyed the kids’ cookie-eating contest. You got to see everybody feeling their most fun personalities. I loved everything about it. I can’t wait to do this again next year and have many more community events like this, where we get to celebrate each other and our town and our country.”
The young contestants got to take home their plates of cookies, and others went to the crowd.
Several of Haddonfield’s downtown businesses were open during the holiday events. Michael Marciante is executive director of the Partnership for Haddonfield.
“This morning, at least 25 businesses are open …” he said on the 4th. “We’re happy to support the event. There seems to be a very nice mixed crowd of both Haddonfield residents and people visiting the town. It’s a beautiful day, beautiful weather.
“We can’t wait to do it again next year.”
The lack of fireworks this year was a disappointment to many residents. They are routinely held at the high school, but could damage the facility’s newly installed turf field. Yet the block party and parade still drew big crowds.
“It’s a shame that we couldn’t have fireworks,” Siedell remarked. “But I think the town really rallied around and enjoyed their day. And hopefully tonight, they can enjoy themselves even more in one of our neighboring communities.”
