Festive Fourth fête

July 5, 2005

LYNSEA GARRISON\Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA -- Horses painted with glitter, children laughing in a canoe, dressed-up dogs and colorful floats flowed through the streets of downtown Wasilla while hundreds of Alaskans crowded the sidewalks to watch the Independence Day parade Monday.

Streams of red, white and blue traveled down Tommy Moe Drive making a circle and ending at Iditapark. The event had the theme of "Celebrate Our Future: Celebrate our Youth."

The parade began with two police officers on bicycles escorting a police car. A series of U.S. Army vehicles followed, many with flags draped on the fronts of them. U.S. Army soldiers handed out candy to both adults and children who were watching the parade.

Various participants in the parade played music, including a band of children from the Susitna Valley and members of the Church on the Rock.

"Freedom is not free, we always have to sacrifice something for freedom," said one Church on the Rock member as the float traveled by some parade watchers.

Young girls who represented the Miss Alaska National Pre-Teen Petite Achievement Program sported patriotic outfits -- complete with red, white and blue streamers in their hair -- and waved proudly to onlookers. Several children sat on barrels of hay on top of one float with the words "Sowing Wasilla's Future Leaders." Scarecrows and flowers also surrounded the children.

Other patriotic floats included children and adults dressed like pilgrims or American Indians sitting beside a small church and a replica of Ben Franklin's desk. Mat-Su Borough Assembly Member Mary Kvalheim sat with a handful of children inside a canoe, which was slowly being pulled by a decorated vehicle. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Brownies also walked in the parade and waved small American flags to people on the sidewalks.

The Mat-Su Valley Steelers Football Association also made an appearance, as several football players continuously made plays and mini touchdowns in the streets. Lots of clowns, motorcycles and horses followed the football players. Some of the clowns even made balloon animals for children.

Members of the Red Hat Society, Wasilla All Stars baseball team and others also participated in the parade. To represent the theme of the parade, several children walked in the parade holding signs that read "IDEA." Children wore light bulbs and sunglasses because their "future was so bright." Boy Scout Troop 300 also illustrated this idea, as some were dressed as scientists, engineers and firefighters.

The parade lasted for a little more than an hour and afterward, the city hosted a community picnic. Family-oriented games were also played after the parade along with a parade-awards presentation for participators in the event.

Anchorage resident Bridget Partain and Palmer resident Cynthia Rhodes said it was their first time watching the parade.

"It's important to remember our history and be proud," Partain said. "Just to even thank our guys overseas because we couldn't have all this if it wasn't for them."