The 142nd annual Morgan Hill Independence Day parade took place the morning of July 4 in the city’s downtown. The Freedom Fest festivities were sponsored by local nonprofit Independence Day Celebrations.
Maureen Hunt, who along with her husband Bob has been overseeing the annual Independence Day parade for three decades, is thrilled with this year’s theme for Morgan Hill Freedom Fest.
“It’s a great theme: Happy Birthday, America,” said Hunt.
Hunt said from the comments they received prior to the parade and by the entries themselves, it’s apparent that participants were in a “Happy Birthday” mood. “(they’re) making terrific floats and having great exhibits,” she said. “Everybody is in a party mood.”
Hunt said the parade had about 100 participants this July 4, but there were several with multiple vehicles per entry including the military vehicles, which according to Hunt has 16 cars as part of its entry.
Several bands were also in the mood for celebrating America’s birthday.
“We have four high school bands, a middle school band, two adult bands; we have a high school jazz band, the Morgan Hill Alumni drumline as well as the Sandoshin Taiko drummers.”
Katie Roslund, marketing specialist with the Morgan Hill-based Paramit Corporation, said they like to be part of Freedom Fest because they have deep roots in the community and have many employees who call Morgan Hill home.
With its headquarters in Morgan Hill for the last 10 years, Roslund said the company’s CEO “has lived in Morgan Hill for a long time. He’s very active in the community.”
This year, Roslund said, 10 to 15 people helped create the float.
“They have a present pulling a birthday cake, since the theme is America’s birthday.”
With so many community organizations having joined in on the fun, Hunt said they were honored to celebrate the United States and its veterans, including World War II veterans Lawson Sakai and Justin Fash.
