Hollister
– More than 100 youngsters and parents flew Old Glory yesterday
in the 15th Annual Fourth of July Kiddie Parade. They were
pedaling, riding, being pulled and walking – some of them just
barely.
Hollister – More than 100 youngsters and parents flew Old Glory yesterday in the 15th Annual Fourth of July Kiddie Parade. They were pedaling, riding, being pulled and walking – some of them just barely.
Tiny Rocco Marron, a mere 20 months old, held a flag twice the size of his face as he bounced and weaved between holding his dad’s hand and trekking on his own.
“It’s wonderful,” Robert Marron said as he guided young Rocco from Veterans Memorial Park down Memorial Drive. “We’ve been living in this neighborhood for seven years and now we can participate,” he said, referring to his son’s parade debut.
Parade organizers handed out flags to start, but the marchers came prepared. They tied red, white and blue banners and streamers to bikes, wagons and helmets. Puppies wore patriotic scarves, fathers fiddled with camcorders, onlookers waved from lawns and a giant red fire truck led the way. Curious faces peeked out from covered strollers.
“It’s fun,” said 8-year-old Jordan Kiener, dressed in blue shorts and top, her younger brother Darian in all red. “Then you get fireworks at the end of the day.”
“Yeah – and you can make them go boom!” said 3-year-old Darian as he mimicked throwing a firework at the street.
“We’re having a blast,” said Stephanie Hicks, who participated with her daughters Katerina, 8, and Julia, 3. “My daughters were so excited. This is great for the community.”
Geri Johnson, chair of the Fourth of July Celebration Committee, which organizes the parade and the fireworks show, counted between 30 and 50 marchers last year. Many more showed up on Tuesday and one of them, 3-year-old Sydney Gaither, took a spill on her tricycle and didn’t even cry. Her mom, Kim, asked what her favorite part of the day was so far.
“My bike,” she said.
Betsy Ross and Uncle Sam impersonators got the crowd fired up for the Pledge of Allegiance and “God Bless America” after the half-hour parade concluded at Marguerite Maze Middle School, where the kids washed down cookies with fruit punch.
“I think we need more of this in this country,” Mayor Robert Scattini said to the crowd after the ceremony.
“This day is ours,” added Vice Mayor Brad Pike. “It’s all about community. It’s about something we take for granted sometimes.”
It’s also about expression, explained Samantha Smith.
“Because I have a flag,” the 6-year-old said alongside her mom, Angela.
Her brother, 9-month-old Anthony Smith, may not have realized he was celebrating America’s 230th Birthday in a dark blue stroller, but he had the shirt on to show it. It was blue with a red and white rocket. It read “Lil’ Fire Cracker.”
The Hollister Chamber of Commerce footed the insurance bill for the parade. McDonald’s donated the cookies. Waste Management donated a handful of portable toilets for the ceremony. The committee bought the flags and punch with donations and the Hollister police worked with traffic.
“We just want to celebrate our nation’s birthday,” Johnson said.
Banks Albach covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335.
