A celebration of independence marched through Wasilla

Frontiersman editorial board

The sidewalks were lined with people in Wasilla Friday as the Independence Day parade strolled by. If you had any doubts about liberty and the democratic process in the Valley, a good look at parade goers and entrants should have eased your mind.

Marching along in the parade were representatives of many points of view, and all wore smiles. The sounds of modern gospel music lilted through the air as a revival-style Christian float made its way past. Following close behind was a large float touting the benefits of legalized hemp. Not too far from the hemp mobile was a Boy Scouts float dedicated to diversity -- which some may consider a contradiction in itself.

Later in the parade a right-to-life group marched directly in front of a group dedicated to women's empowerment, and a group of Girl Scouts dressed as busy bees marched along somewhere behind a float that championed recovery from substance abuse.

Betsy Ross made an appearance in the body of Mina Methonen. And a traditional fife and drum corps played Yankee Doodle Dandy for the crowd. The entire parade was led by the 297 Support Battalion, serving as color guard. Floats were entered by businesses and by politicians, and one couple simply entered as themselves to ride a giant-wheeled bike and a unicycle.

On the sidelines, people came from around the Valley to enjoy the sunshine that graced the parade. Some families wore patriotic clothing, and others simply wore jeans and T-shirts -- what could be more American than that?

The very idea of what it is to be American is often symbolized in a small town Independence Day parade. We can take heart that, at least on a local level, democracy is alive and well as people with vastly different opinions march by waving the same stars and stripes. No one was excluded, and nobody heckled a single entrant. It was a celebration of ideas, and every idea was invited, as least as far as we could see.

At a time when some Americans feel uneasy about security and about where we fit in the world, perhaps something can be learned from the slow-moving floats and marchers of a local Fourth of July parade. The Independence Day parade is a collection of people who have different beliefs and priorities -- all marching in the same direction. It is also collection of people watching the procession move by. Those spectators each nod their heads at some entrants and shrug their shoulders at others. What they all share is the knowledge that they are free to believe and live as they choose. It is certainly something worth marching about -- it's certainly something worthy of celebration.