(As seen in Inside Chappaqua)
By Maggie Mae…with Ronni Diamondstein
One of my favorite activities is the annual Memorial Day Parade down King Street and South Greeley Avenue. I have been going to the parade since I was a puppy. Lots of people line the parade route, and many of them bring their dogs. We are so lucky to live in such a dog–friendly town. My favorite place is at the bottom of King Street, and once I see the police motorcycle, I know the fun has started. As the parade turns the corner, I see the big Fire Trucks, Ambulances, all the volunteer first responders, Veterans, and Girl Scouts. There is a lot of music and lots of kids play in the Marching Band.
A lot of people I know march in the parade. The Town Supervisor and Council Members walk along with the Town Clerk and Town Justices. I always like to see President Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, who march in the parade too. Last year I met the Governor of our State, Andrew Cuomo and County Executive Rob Astorino, who was there with David Buchwald, our NYS Assemblyman.
Once the parade reaches the Chappaqua Train Station, everyone gets together to honor the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Most of the other dogs and I are good listeners and behave well as we gather on the lawn to watch.
But the parade is definitely not for every dog. My friend Finn, a Wheaton went once, and it was just too exciting for him, so his owner never took him again. Penny, a two-year- old Portuguese Water Dog, would like to go but she isn’t trained well enough yet. “Until I can resist my urge to jump up on people, I won’t be attending any parades with my parents,” says Penny. I hope she learns before this year’s parade. Rocky, a Black Labrador Retriever, says his owner has a sturdy body harness on him. “If I see another dog, I get excited and pull hard on my leash. Once when I saw another dog, she accidentally dropped the leash and she almost had a heart attack.” Luckily, Rocky didn’t get that far. The first year I went to the parade, the muskets were so loud they scared me. Rocky said that the same thing happened to him, but like me, he is used to them now.
If you want to bring your dog to the parade, here is some good advice that will let both of you enjoy yourselves. First, know your dog. He or she needs to be well-trained and behave around other people as I have learned to do. Make sure you have your dog on a leash. Voice command is allowed in our town, but in such a crowded place it is much safer for your dog to be on a leash. At that time of day, it can get very hot out in the sun, so bring along water and a treat to reward your pet’s good manners.
Enjoy this special day in our town. I just can’t wait!
Maggie Mae’s Must Do:
ECAD – Denim Heels Boot Tail, Thursday, May 15
starting at 6:30 P.M. at Brynwood Golf & Country Club in Armonk, NY.
This annual fun-filled event raises funds for ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities,) the not-for-profit organization that raises, educates and places Service Dogs with people with disabilities, many of them Veterans.
An evening of dinner, dancing and an inspiring program, ECAD will honor individuals and entities that have shown their support for ECAD’s work and for help given to Veterans of the Armed Services. ECAD clients and their Service Dogs will be in attendance. Tickets are $200.00 per person. For information call
914-693-0600, ext. 1950. For further information visit www.ecad1.org
Contact Maggie Mae Pup ReporterTM at maggiemae10514@gmail.com Visit Maggie Mae’s blog at www.maggiemaepup.com
Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant, and award-winning photographer.
