Fourth of July with the Lake Groton Association
4th of July Boat Parade History
It all started with a man and a love for his country. In the 1990’s on the 4th of July, Roger DuBois and his dog Rusty would get in his pontoon boat early in the morning, and drive around Lake Groton playing patriotic music over the speakers of his boat. His wife Mary Ann urged him not to go so early; as not to disturb the neighbors, she was afraid they would receive negative phone calls. Well… phone calls they got, but negative they weren’t. Neighbors from around the lake were asking him to come back. So around noon he would don his patriotic hat waving to those on the shore. A simple one-man parade spawned the idea for Roger to hand out flyers and invite ALL to join in. His neighbor Harold Puffer, who shared his patriotic enthusiasm, soon joined in. The two would decorate their boats and circle the lake. Thus the 4th of July Lake Groton Boat Parade was born.
Roger would traditionally lead the parade with a roar of patriotic music, where he eventually blew out the speakers in his boat. Over the years modifications to the music were made, from an organ with foot pedals, to today using an I-pod.
4th of July 2001 Roger beamed when he circled the lake with his entire family. As he celebrated the two things he loved, his family and his country. Then a spontaneous family picture was taken, a picture that would soon be treasured. Sadly just six weeks later Roger passed away.
In 2002, The DuBois Family prepared for it’s first 4th without their leader. As they gathered in the cove waiting to begin, Harold Puffer had a surprise for them, a sign made to honor his friend and patriotic buddy that read “Thanks Roger” was on the side of his boat, it was such a fitting tribute. Each year the sign is displayed at various locations around the lake.
As more and more boats joined the parade, the Forest Country Store began to donate prizes for the best decorated boat and the DuBois Family presents a gift basket to the best decorated shore display. But the Boat Parade would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for the support of the Lake Groton Community. It has really become a community event. It shows how much we truly love this country we call the United States of America.
The DuBois family would like to THANK our fellow Lake Groton Patriots for making the 4th of July Boat Parades the BEST EVER.
Mary Ann DuBois
117 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
413-538-8952
802-584-3041
grannyd117@verizon.net
2023 July 4th Boat Parade on July 2nd: Click here for pictures. There were two Hardy souls who weathered the rain.
2022 July 4th Boat Parade on July 3rd: Click here for pictures. There was no judging this year and everyone won! It was a beautiful Day for a parade!
2021 July 4th Boat Parade on July 3rd: Two Boat Parade Two Winners: Boat #1: Ashley Luurtsema, Dick and Nancy Guy, Zach and Judi Smith, and children. And Boat #2: Bob Ringen. Congratulations on Showing the Flag! Note: it was a miserable, rainy day but these people carried on the tradition!
2020 July 4th Boat Parade on July 4th: Boat parade winners: First place, Hero Salute (Ricker); Hillbilly Houseboat — Whimsical Award; 4th of July Celebration Award – (Gherardi); and We’re All in this Together Award — (Reader). Note: This was the summer of the Coronavirus.
2019 July 4th Boat Parade on July 6th: Boat parade winners: Super 4th- Best Overall; Frozen- Most Creative; Hippies- Most Spirit. Camp Winner -Randy and Debbie Smith camp#101, @29 West Shore Rd EXT.
2018 July 4th Boat Parade on July 7th
2017 July 4th Boat Parade on July 2nd: Most Patriotic Boat: The Schaarschmidt Camp; and Best Shoreline Decoration: The Boisvert Camp.
2016 July 4th Boat Parade on July 2nd: Best Decorated Boat: the Odell’s Camp Muffet; and Best Shoreline Decoration: The Starr Camp. Thanks to Ashley Luurtsema for contributing the pictures.
2015 July 4th Parade pictures: Most Patriotic Boat: The Concannon Camp; and Best Shoreline Decoration: The Concannon Camp – a double winner! Also a special mention of the creativity of the “Champ” float.
2014 July 4th Boat Parade Winners: Most Patriotic Boat: The Odells Camp Muffet; Best shoreline Decoration: The Edson Camp
2013 July 4th Boat Parade Winners: Ricker Camp – Camp #54 (with contribution made by Goodine camp #53). Nice interactive display complete with fireworks! Most Patriotic Winner was the Ringen Camp # 8. Complete with a flutist, Annika Ringen playing the “Star spangled Banner” for all the shoreline guests. Shore line Winner had to go to the Smith Camp # 101. “Christmas on the Lake”. In July?! Very participative with Santa, Snow and bikini clad reindeer and helpers. Prizes donated by the Forest Country Store.
2012 July 4th Boat Parade Winners: Parade Boat #10 “Fishing on the Pond” by John and Elaine Magnan and guest was the Best Overall, very original. Astenrogen (The Lindsay Camp) won the Shoreline prize. Prizes donated by the Forest Country Store. Elaine’s response: Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! What a wonderful surprise. John recently bought an 8hp motor for that boat and I told him we had to put it in the parade this year. The third person in the boat is my sister, Martha, another “lifer” on the pond. It was like old times. We lost Dad’s old fishing hat in the wind, but Dad would have approved of its final resting place at the bottom of the pond. He would also be tickled with this honor. It really means a lot, thank you.
2011: July 4th Boat Parade Winners: the Burrell camp won Most Patriotic, the Spencer camp won Most Creative (Just Married) and Randy and Debbie Smith (camp 101) won the Shoreline prize. Congratulations! Prizes donated by the Forest Country Store. Thanks to Paul & Carole DuBois, Cindy Spoor, Steve Clark, Jon Desilets, Darlene Sprague and Elaine Magnan for picture contributions.
2010: July 4th Boat Parade Winners! The Overall Winner: the Spencer Camp. The Harold Puffer Most Patriotic Boat: the Cirone Camp “Red Cross”. The Most Creative Boat: the Maloney Camp. Honorable Mention: The Concannon Camp. Best Decorated Shore Line: Edson Camp. The Forest Country Store donated prizes for the overall winner, Runner-up (Concanon Camp) received a gift certificate for a Pizza and Drink donated by Bill Kane of the Upper Valley Grill and General Store, and the DuBois Family presented a gift basket to the best decorated shore display. Thanks to Darlene Sprague, Jon Desilets, John LaRosa and Warren Edson for picture contributions. Also movie of the lead Dubois boat by Jon Desilets.
2009: July 4th Boat Parade Winners: Most Creative Boat: the Cirone Camp “Hat’s off to Roger”. Harold Puffer Most Patriotic Boat: the Reed/Magnan Camp. Best Decorated Shore Line: Boisvert/Dooley Camp. The Forest Country Store donated prizes for the best decorated boat and the DuBois Family presented a gift basket to the best decorated shore display.
2008: July 4th, Boat Parade winner: The Burrell – Lund Camp. The Shore Winner was Camp 127, the Concannon Camp. The Forest Country Store donated prizes for the best decorated boat and the DuBois Family presented a gift basket to the best decorated shore display.
2007: July 4th, 2007 Boat Parade Results. The Boat Parade Winner was “The Dancing, Singing Pirates!” by the Cirone camp! The Shore Winner was Camp 109 (John and Elaine Magnan and Martha Reed). Prizes were from the Forest Country Store. Thanks to Jennifer Cetin and John LaRosa for help with pictures. For pictures of the Fireworks taken by Deb Dinsmore, renting at the Edsons, click here.
2006: July 4th Boat Parade Results. Overall Winner was “Winter Wunderland” by the Lord Camp! Second place: “Yellow Submarine” by the Dooley Family at the Boisvert camp. The Shoreline winner: the Starr camp, “Northstarr”. The Forest Store supplied the first place prize.
2005: July 4th Boat Parade Winners: Overall winner was the covered wagon belonging to the Brian, Penny and Betsy Dooley of the Boisvert camp! They received a trophy and the Forest Store prize box. Best Effort went to Camp Colemine for their outhouse. Most Patriotic went to the Dubois family. Best dressed/most elegant went to the Carson family (renters at Edson’s) for the costumes of the children-Jessica, Elizabeth, Katie, and Allie. Most balloons (and they were counted by the impartial judging staff) went to the Burrell camp. Most perseverance went to the Reader’s (Beth) for holding up their swaying palm tree all the way around. The Forest Store supplied the first place prize and the Dauts of Berlin, Vermont provided the trophies and impartial judging.
2004: July 4th Boat Parade Winner: “Rub-a-Dub-Dub” by Brian, Penny, Betsy and Abby Dooley from the Boisvert Camp. Shoreline winner: the Smith Camp (#22) by Katelynn Keough, April Smith, Dana Smith Jr., Dana Smith and Mary Keough.