It’s a poetic coming-full-circle moment for Bristol’s Rick and Patti Baccus, who on Tuesday night were named Chief Marshals for the 2024 Fourth of July Celebration.

Fittingly enough, the couple actually met at the Bristol Fourth of July Parade, 42 years ago.

It was 1982 and Patti, a Bristol native who was living in California at the time, was home visiting family for the holiday. Rick was a friend of her stepfather’s from his work at Texas Instruments. Seventeen years later, in 1999, they would meet again — again at the Bristol Fourth of July Parade. This time, they would not say goodbye.

They married and bought a home in Bristol in 2000. Patti made her career as a talent acquisition specialist with Cox. Rick, who served four years active duty in the Army before his stint with Texas Instruments, had become a full-time staff officer with the Rhode Island Army National Guard beginning in 1980, holding numerous posts for the next 22 years.

He was appointed commanding officer of the 43rd Military Police Brigade in 2001 and promoted to Brigadier General. In 2002, just months after the September 11th attacks, he took command of Joint Task Force 160, where he was the head of the Military Police at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In 2001, he was selected to serve the state of Rhode Island as the Director of the Veterans Memorial cemetery in Exeter, which began a 19-year career with the state of Rhode Island until he retired in 2020, after serving 12 years as the administrator at the Rhode Island Veterans Home. During that time, Rick oversaw the complete transformation of the Veterans Home from what it was to the incredible facility it is now, a five-year process. “It’s something I’m very proud of,” he said.

When Rick was serving as the Rhode Island Veterans Home Administrator, Patti co-chaired the Festival of Trees for two years, raising over $20,000 dollars for the veterans. She received the Commander's Award for public service from the Family Council.

During Rick’s service in Cuba, Patti supported the families of the other guardsmen who were deployed with Rick.

“Thanks to the Fourth of July Committee I was able to have the families that wanted to, come participate in the parade,” said Patti. “We had pictures of their family member and the kids could hold them and walk with them. That was probably one of my favorite memories, everybody along the street were so kind and clapping…it was just such a good experience.”

Patti would also receive an award for her service from the 43rd Military Police Brigade during that deployment.

Rick is a member of several veterans organizations and served as the commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter in Bristol for five years. He is also a longtime member of the Bristol Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Saint Albans Lodge of free and accepted masons in Bristol. He’s been recognized with numerous awards and citations including being thrice awarded the Rhode Island Star, the highest peacetime award the Governor can present.

Both Patti and Rick have devoted much of the past two decades to community service, most notably through the Bristol County Elks Lodge, where Patti was named the first female "Exalted Ruler” in Bristol Elks history. Both have served in multiple leadership roles, both locally and through the state association, earning numerous accolades and awards. In addition, Patti was awarded the President of the United States Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grand Lodge of Elks. She also holds the title of Major General in the Rhode Island Militia.

A long history of volunteerism to the Fourth

Together, Rick and Patti joined the Fourth of July Committee in 2000, and in the past 24 years have served with the same dedication and commitment to leadership roles that they have demonstrated in every other area of their lives. Rick has also served as both the Patriotic and Interfaith speaker. They also served on the Christmas Festival Committee for years and were given the Spirit of Christmas Award in 2014.

Among their proudest accomplishments was one that was bookended by their leadership — the creation and installation of the Rhode Island State Elks Veterans Memorial at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. The project began when Rick was the Rhode Island state Elks Association president in 2016, and after years of planning and fundraising the memorial was dedicated when Patti was serving in that same role in 2022.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Patti. “We are very proud of it.”

Patti and Rick said they were completely surprised when Fourth of July Committee General Chairman Camille Teixeira asked them to serve as Chief Marshals. Assuming that the request to meet was going to have something to do with Elks or Fourth of July business, Patti had a pad and pen poised and ready to take notes — which she quietly set down as Teixeira’s intent became clear.

“We were stunned,” Patti said.

“I chose Rick and Patti because of the wonderful people that they are and their commitment to community service,” said Teixeira. “They don’t think twice when it comes to giving of themselves.”

Teixeira referenced Patti’s notebook being at the ready when she informed them they had been selected.

“They were ready to go to work for the Fourth Committee. They were ready to get their hands dirty. That shows the type of people they are,” she said. “I’m honored they accepted; they are so deserving.”

Patti and Rick are looking forward to sharing the day with their two daughters and the two of their four grandchildren who will be able to make the trip. For a couple that met in the Fourth of July in Bristol, not once, but twice, there is certainly nowhere else they would rather be.

“I think this was a sign that we were meant to be,” said Patti. “How lucky I am, and how lucky he is too because he married a Bristolian! I will proudly be standing by his side as we share the honor of being this year's Chief Marshals together.”

“I’m not a Bristolian, though I have been here a few years, and to give me this kind of recognition is such an honor,” said Rick. “You know, I never really had any place that felt like home. Now I do. If it wasn't for Bristol and the people I've met in the town and all the people I've worked with here…you really feel part of the family here in Bristol.”