Appreciated Lagina brothers being IM-K parade marshals
Bouquets and Barbs
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BOUQUET: Among their many adventures, Rick and Marty Lagina are particularly known for their long-running reality TV show "The Curse of Oak Island." Now, as Marty pointed out, they can include the honor of being grand marshals in the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Independence Day Parade this year, celebrating America's 250th!
However, this wasn't their first rodeo. They also served as grand marshals for the Kingsford Centennial Parade, which is where I first learned about the Ford Edition Parade. Ann Lagina, Rick and Marty's mother, along with her friend Gloria Boyce, created a parade each year for Gloria's son, John, and the local children. It may have started with newspaper hats and been as simple as having the kids dress up their bikes to march around the block, but those are often some of the most meaningful moments in life.
Perhaps our little hometown parade was reminiscent for the "boys."
Rick and Marty said the Ford Edition Park was one of their favorite spots to play. Today, kids can enjoy the new ship playground and pavilion the Lagina brothers have personally donated. When I met them at the park, Rick told me as a kid he was drawn in by the trees that always felt massive. They found joy in letting their imaginations run wild in the simplest of settings. Even as I drove away, Marty hung from the monkey bars, showing his playful spirit.
Their kindness, contagious energy and honest love for exploration that started as children must certainly be why they have the following they do. They may be famous all over the globe, but they show up where it matters most.
Thank you so much, Rick and Marty Lagina, for fitting our Independence Day parade into your busy schedules -- the honor was ours!
A special thank you to Terese (Lagina) Fornetti, who helped make it happen!