It was another hot, gorgeous July 4th Capitol Hill Parade on Barracks Row Thursday. The Eastern Marching Band and Lady Gems dance team, both from Eastern High School (1700 E. Capitol St. SE) stepped off, leading the parade north up Eighth Street from Virginia Avenue SE.
Hundreds lined the street, clustering in the shade as they watched their friends and neighbors marched by. This year there was a good representation of District istrative and elected officials; while Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) was at Pallisades instead, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith and First District Commander Colin Hall were the in the vanguard. DC Fire Emergency Medical Services (DC FEMS) Chief John A. Donnelly seemed to enjoy himself as he tossed candy and green balls to the crowd.
At-Large Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie (I) marched, as did Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) as well as At-Large Councilmember Robert White, Sr. (D) and DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb.
Many schools marched despite the heat, including the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools, Payne, Maury, Brent and Shirley Chisholm Elementaries as well as Capitol Hill Day School and Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan.
A large contingent marched for Capitol Hill Village, the organization helping people age in place as well as the Ward 6 Democrats. Capitol Hill Little League, where the U10 Team just won the District championship, also had a large group.
Churches were also well represented, including St. Mark’s Episcopal and Christ Church Capitol Hill, but also Graceway Baptist, which brought a band to their float.
Hill’s Kitchen marched, carrying pots and pans; East City Books found Waldo and brought him to the parade. Kathleen Donahue of Labyrinth brought Pikachu of Pokèmon fame; the character was repeatedly stopped by chidlren looking for hugs along the route.
The parade ended rather early, at around 10:45 a.m. and most attendees found themselves in line for free ice cream as part of the Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS) attempt at the Guiness World Record for Most People to Make the Shape of An Ice Cream Cone.
Hundreds received colored plastic ponchos that would delineate differently flavored “scoops” and a cone. But the attempt melted in temperatures that reached into the mid 90s as hundreds of participants sweated inside the plastic capes. One woman fainted in the pink section.
In the end the Guinness World Records Offical Adjudicator thanked the crowd for their efforts, but said that they were unable to get either a satisfactory count or a clear photo that would meet the official standards.
however, Barracks Row Main Street Executive Director Brian Ready thanked the crowd for coming together to make the effort, calling it a demonstration of togetherness and community.
