Fourth of July in Montclair: A celebration of front-line heroes

In Montclair over the last year, some honors and celebrations have been deferred because of the coronavirus pandemic — but Saturday’s Caravan for Heroes kept the community’s spirit of appreciation for those on the front lines alive.

The Montclair Celebrates committee cancelled its July 4 parade and picnic for the second year in a row in 2021. While there are no longer any state-mandated limitations on indoor or outdoor gatherings, organizers said the uncertainty around coronavirus restrictions in the months leading up to the event made planning impossible.

Instead: Montclair paid tribute to its front-line workers as well as businesses that played a key role in seeing the community through the pandemic with a caravan through the township’s streets Saturday, marking Independence Day weekend. The caravan traveled to the Wally Choice Center in Glenfield Park, where officials paid tribute to the man selected as grand marshal for 2020’s parade — Dan Gill, a Glenfield Middle School teacher for more than half a century.

In a video interview with Montclair Celebrates committee Vice President Tim Barr last year, Gill reflected on his lengthy career, the difficulties of remote learning, and what it means to make a connection with a student.

“As Maya Angelou said, people won’t remember you for what you did, but they’ll remember you for how you made them feel,” he said. “And that’s what every teacher should keep in mind. Although you think you’re teaching, you know, this wonderful lesson, say on the Revolutionary War, they’ll come back and say, ‘I remember the day you bent over and you split your pants.’ And, here’s the thing: And you laughed at yourself. And that taught them that — that’s OK. That’s what you do. You laugh at yourself.”

Barr said in the interview Gill, the father of County Commissioner and Montclair resident Brendan Gill, had a “fan base” that spanned decades.

See below the caravan photo gallery for more ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in and around Montclair.

Other ways to celebrate the Fourth of July nearby:

• West Orange will hold an Independence Day celebration July 4 at West Orange High School, with a food truck festival from 1 to 9 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.

• In Millburn, a flag raising will take place at 9 a.m. in Taylor Park on Sunday, July 4. That will be followed at 10 a.m. by family fun events including a magician’s performance, Revolutionary War reenactments, a scavenger hunt and chalk decorating. There will be fireworks at the Millburn High School Football Field in the evening at about 9 p.m.

• There will be a fireworks celebration the evening of Sunday, July 4 at the James Caldwell High School baseball field in West Caldwell.

• Fireworks and a concert by The Infernos in Essex County Brookdale Park will be Friday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. The Infernos’ repertoire includes all genres of music including big band, oldies, Motown and today’s top chart busters. The concert and fireworks were rescheduled from July 1 due to inclement weather.