The grand marshal for the Together Days parade on Saturday, June 7, is Barbara Hawkes, the former city clerk, who retired earlier this year. Hawkes, 75, has lived in Westbrook for over 60 years and has been in the Together Days parade for the past 14 years, as the city clerk. Last week, Hawkes sat down with the American Journal to talk about what her favorite parts of Together Days are, how she’s been keeping busy in her retirement and why this may not be the last year she is in the parade.

Q: Do you know how you were chosen to be grand marshal in the parade?

A: Because they asked me to be. I believe it’s because I just retired. It’ll probably be the last Together Days parade I’ll be in. I was in it every year for 14 years as city clerk.

Q: What are your duties as grand marshal?

A: I have no idea. Show up for the parade?

Q: How long have your been going to the Together Days parade?

A: Probably 20 years, at least. I think they have a great parade. You never know what they’re going to have. There’s always a new group that pops up.

Q: What’s your favorite part of Together Days?

A: You see everybody. There’s a lot of people there, and everybody’s having a great time. The whole family goes. Our great grandson goes and our daughter.

Q: How have you been keeping busy since your retirement?

A: In January, it was cold and snowing, so I did basically inside work, got my house back together. I have small flower gardens. They all had to be raked out and cleaned out and weeded. Next month, we’re going to Kentucky. My husband, Al, is being honored at the international bluegrass museum. We’re going to take the camper.

Q: Are you sad that this will be the last Together Days parade you’ll be in?

A: No. In fact, we have motorcycles, and I’ve always said if I wasn’t clerk, I’d put it in the parade. So, maybe I’ll do that next year, just for fun.

Barbara Hawkes will be in Westbrook’s Together Days parade for the 15th year in a row. For the past 14 years, she was in the parade as the City Clerk. This year, she’ll be the grand marshal.