4th of July, 2nd year, 1st Place

First off, we'd like to wish everyone a very safe and happy Independence Day.

Second, thanks to Mondo for addressing the 2nd birthday of IBC below - I needed another number to make my title work.  (Speaking of titles that don't work... Will, were you really eating sweet potatoes or is that a song???)

Lastly, but really I mean "FIRSTLY", whoooraaaa and congratulations to Islander By Choice and the 2009 Galveston Island Beach Revue: Bathing Beauties Contest ladies (and gent, thank you David!) for winning FIRST PLACE in the Galveston Island July 4th Parade for "Most Patriotically Decorated Group"!!!!  All of the bathing beauties in the parade wore their vintage or "vintage-inspired" swimwear that they competed in during the Beach Revue on May 16th, 2009 on Galveston Island.

Thanks to ALL of our '09 Beach Revue winner's circle and our FANTASTIC contestants that, truly all absolutely ROCK for coming out and adding to the fun! 

Thanks also to Kathy Modzelewski for coordinating and putting on the entire parade event - you did a fantastic job!!!  And thanks to Parade Marshall Frank Billingsly for your continued support of Galveston Island.

Happy 4th, people!

So, folks in the pics, from top to bottom are: (Caddy pic) Claire, Willthing, Brad, Neil, and Zac lead the IBC float in Will's 1959 Caddillac named "St. Valentine".  (Float pic #1 from left to right) Cindy, David, Dana (1st runner up modern and vintage bathing beauty), Secelia (2nd runner up vintage bathing beauty), Carly, Chandler (winner modern bathing beauty), Klayre, Katrina and Melozi (winner vintage bathing beauty) wave to the crowd at 23rd and Strand in historic downtown Galveston along the parade route. 

(Float pic #2, left to right) Cindy, David, Dana, Secelia, Carly, Chandler, Klayre and Katrina throw beads to the crowd along Postoffice Street.  (Above left pic) Klayre waves to the crowd in her 1940s vintage suit.  (Above right pic) Matt and Ed do not appear to like the fact that, once they turned north on 21st Street, their shade went away - luckily Mondo carries an extra beach umbrella in the bed of the truck for such a situation.  (Below pic) This year Mondo gave up his bullhorn so he could pull the float - none of the bathing beauties fell out so job well done, Mondo!