July 21st of every year is Liberation Day. We skip all of the 4th of July extravaganza and wait until the 21st and have a huge islandwide overnight fiesta on Marine Corp Drive. Yes, overnight. People line up at the department of parks and recreation earlier during the month to get a permit for a spot along the parade route. They then pitch tents and canopies in their designated spots on the night before the parade and stay overnight until late afternoon of the parade. There is serious grilling on the road all night and all day long. There was a time when permits were not issued and it was essentially families picked their on place and cordened it off. So we’d have families camped out along the road for nearly a month to save their family’s spot. If someone took their “spot” there would be fights, Now they camp out at the permits office at the Dept. of Parks and Rec on the night before the permits are given out, to be first in line for their “spot.” If someone else got their spot…
I didn’t used to go because it’s a pain to get to the parade, but I do go whenever we are invited by one of my close friends (which is essentially, every year). You see, ever since the District Court of Guam moved to it’s current location, on Marine Corps Drive, the Court has had front row seat to the parade and has had a party every year.
As you can see, it was pretty warm that day. Usually it’s raining cats and dogs for at least half the time. This time, it was sprinkling just enough to keep it from getting unbearable. Or course, it also made it humid.
Mylene Lopez.com 