Friday, Jul. 11, 2008

4th of July Parade

20th Annual Children’s Parade Celebrated

By John English

Contributing Writer

American flags were out in force last Friday at the 20th Annual Independence Day Children’s Parade as Flower Mound area residents decorated bicycles, wagons, motorized four-wheelers and even dogs to honor America’s independence.

The Flower Mound Fire Department and Marcus High School AFJROTC were on hand for the event, and most people agreed that the parade is one of the two Fourth of July celebrations they look forward to the most.

"We’ve done this the last three or four years, and each year it has grown and gotten bigger," Carol Kirby said. "I think it has become a major event and as a result, we have seen other things like the Easter Egg deal, get bigger."

Kirby, a member of Live Oak Church, was part of a group handing out flags and bottles of waters to participants in the parade.

"This is a great way for the community to kind of come together," Kirby said. "It has also been a good way for us as a church to do some ministry within our own community, to just hand out water and meet people."

The Summit Club of Flower Mound has provided more than 40,000 free hot dogs since the parade began in l989.

Zach Maggart of Highland Village said he would not miss the Flower Mound parade on the Fourth of July.

"We’ve been coming for several years and it is an event that we look forward to every year," Maggart said. "This is one of the two events I come to each year, along with the fireworks display."

Most people agreed that the evening fireworks display was also a highly anticipated event.

Cheryl Sneed of Flower Mound was a newcomer to the parade and said she liked how it offered something for the children to do.

"This is our first year to participate, and we love it," Sneed said. "We love seeing all the kids with their bikes decorated."

Hundreds of bikes, scooters, strollers and even a go-kart made their way down Timber Creek Drive in a sea of red, white and blue as the parade started – two women stood on the side of the road singing The Star-Spangled Banner.

Marybeth Soto, who brought her 3-year-old dog, Salsa, to the parade, said she has been coming to the event for the past eight years.

"I love this," Soto said. "Every year it gets better and there are more things for the kids to do. Everybody is working together and visiting. ... I enjoy bringing my dog out, and this was the first year that my grandson could ride his bicycle in the parade, so it is very special for us."