Megan and Bruce Andersen believed their second Eagles’ Super Bowl victory parade Friday morning was a bit more organized than the inaugural one in 2018.

The overall sentiments of joyful emotions that could be sensed and felt in downtown Philadelphia also reminded the Lehighton couple of a situation when they experienced a similar feeling.

Somewhere above the seas of green and white for the Andersens, the tie-dyed Jerry Garcia was smiling.

“Honestly, I would have to say when we attended Grateful Dead concerts,” Megan Anderson said in response to when the couple had a related affection. “Ironically, the last one we saw was in Philly.

“People were so happy dancing in the streets, truly making it the City of Brotherly Love. I’ve been a fan since I met my husband in 1981. Everyone was so polite in the enormous crowd and full of life.”

It was a day for local fans, who joined the Philly area ones, as both groups reveled in the compassion and passion for their beloved Birds.

The Eagles’ parade began just after 11 a.m. at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, outside of Lincoln Financial Field. It worked its way up Broad Street, wrapping around City Hall, and moving up Ben Franklin Parkway before ending at the Art Museum.

Officials estimated over 1 million people were in Philadelphia on Friday.

Streets of green

Caitlyn Moyer and her husband, Adam Smith, were also among the many who made the average 80-plus mile trip from the greater Carbon and Schuylkill counties’ areas.

The couple began the trek from their Kunkletown home at 5:30 a.m. to Lansdale Station to catch the 7.a.m. train into the city.

Once their journey began, Caitlyn watched a cavalcade of lifetime memories created before her and her husband’s eyes.

“There were hundreds at the station already by the time we got there, waiting to get in line,” recalled Caitlyn. “We successfully squeezed into a pretty full train filled with Eagles fans. We arrived and immediately headed to get as close to the Art Museum as possible.

“The streets were filled with green! We ended up finding a decent spot to wait for the players to arrive, but it was very hard to see everything. They had jumbo screens up playing the Super Bowl and then, in turn, the televised parade, which helped if you weren’t tall.”

Both of them were seemingly mesmerized by the players’ speeches, notably veteran Brandon Graham.

“The speeches were fun and emotional,” added Caitlyn. “A lot of players chose to talk this year, which I felt was very different from 2018, so that was cool to see.

“My favorite speech was Brandon Graham because he has been with the team for 15 years, and I like when the veterans get a chance to celebrate with the new guys.

Once in a lifetime

Nik Wasko, of Jim Thorpe, attended the parade with his daughter, Leah Wasko, a freshman who runs track at West Chester University. They met his cousin, Tina Wim, along with her husband and two kids who drove up from Ocean City, Maryland.

Wasko said they showed up at the NovaCare Complex around 7 a.m. and were there for about five hours in total.

“We saw the start of the parade on Broad Street and Pattison Avenue,” Wasko said. “It was a pretty cool experience.”

Wasko said his wife, Melissa, and their other daughter Ella, unfortunately had the flu and therefore didn’t go along to the parade. Yet, it didn’t dampen his spirits.

“It was still an awesome experience,” he said. “I want it to say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but there’s no reason why if we stay healthy, this should be the beginning of another one or two parades.”

Wasko said the week before the Super Bowl, they went Lincoln Financial Field to the Eagles Sendoff Party.

“I like to say we sent them off, and now we’re here to welcome them home,” he added.

Wasko said he missed the last Eagles Super Bowl Parade seven years ago due to a snow and an ice storm the night before and watched that one from the warmth of his house.

“I’m a girl dad and I am very blessed that my two daughters bleed the (Eagles’) Midnight Green on Sundays, and also Penn State blue and white on Saturdays,” he said. “I’m very lucky they are die-hard sports fans.”

High-fives

Kyrie Hertz of Port Clinton was part of a contingent that included Katie Walbert (Orefield), Cheyenne Wesley (New Ringgold), Jordan Kull (Orwigsburg), and Nate (Emmaus) and Steven (Slatington) Bausher, all of whom truly relished the moment.

“What a great experience to see tons of fans showing their support for the team that they love,” beamed Hartz. “We got to high-five a bunch of players and one up close and personal as well!”

Walbert and Wesley had mirrored images of the event.

“I absolutely loved how the players came off the buses and interacted with the fans,” gushed Walbert. “It made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience battling every second of the cold and wind!”

“Being able to get an up-close view of the players was priceless,” echoed Wesley. “Enduring he cold and the wind was the only downfall, but so many people showed up to support the team!”

Kull saw a life-changing moment evolve.

“It goes to show how sports in one’s life can affect them for the positive and also help with their overall well-being,” Kull reflected. “It allowed me have lifetime memories to pass down for my family.”

As faithful fans, the Baushers had their cherished moments.

“As a die-hard fan, the parade was more than expected,” exclaimed Nate Bausher. “Getting high-five from Saquon Barkley will be a last memory, and it just further added to the electric atmosphere.

“Seeing my favorite team come down Broad Street was epic,” emphasized Steve Bausher.

Sweet win

Tamaqua’s Josh Holmberg and his son Ryder, who was 6 at the time of the first Eagles’ parade, again both shared the experience.

The celebration also rekindled thoughts of Holmberg’s late father, Elmer, who was a lifelong Giants’ fan.

“I’ve been an Eagles fan since the 1980s thanks to Eric Allen and Randall Cunningham, much to the chagrin of my father, who was a lifelong die-hard Giants fan,” noted Holmberg. “Our experience today was awesome as it was in 2018. This year, we stood on Pattison Avenue at the beginning of the parade and in front of the stadiums.

“The weather was perfect, the fans awesome as always. I knew the team had all the weapons to make a good run, but I prefer to wait and see every season without making any predictions. I bleed green in the fall and live for Sundays to watch them play. My son is as nuts for Eagles as me, thankfully. The first SB win was sweet, but the second was even sweeter!”

Mike Hofmann Jr. of Clark Summit also soaked in the atmosphere, and felt the bond among the crowd.

“It was a day filled with a lot of fun,” stated Hofmann. “You could tell exactly how everyone felt about the day. It was a way to celebrate together with friends and family.”

Lansford native Jen Kosman noticed how the city lived up to its most recognized nickname, joining together in unity for the special day. She was joined by her 6-year-old daughter, Aubrie, and friend Kathy Evans from Summit Hill.

It was a long day, but well worth it.

“We had a great time,” Kosman said. “We did leave at 4 a.m. to get a good spot. We parked on a street and took the “L” (subway). The energy was amazing.

“While waiting for the parade to start, we did the Eagles chant with the fans across the street almost like we were competing. It was fun and brought us all together.”

Kosman believes she saw the true side of Philly fans, not the one often depicted negatively on the national stage.

“Philly fans are more like a family when we get together,” stressed Kosman. “I wish more people would see the good experience like I did.

“So many people were nice and caring especially seeing that I had a child. When it was over, walking back was very crowded, but not one person tried to push my daughter and let us through when they noticed we were all together.”