When the flag goes up on Bob and Maureen Hunt
’s barn, it’s time to think parade. The highlight of Morgan
Hill’s two-day celebration of independence is the official Santa
Clara County Independence Day Parade. It is a chance for Home and
School clubs, neighbors, scout troops, church, sports and nonprofit
groups to show their creativity and
gather new followers.
When the flag goes up on Bob and Maureen Hunt’s barn, it’s time to think parade.
The highlight of Morgan Hill’s two-day celebration of independence is the official Santa Clara County Independence Day Parade. It is a chance for Home and School clubs, neighbors, scout troops, church, sports and nonprofit groups to show their creativity and gather new followers.
Regular paraders – bands, horse teams, firefighters – know the ropes already. To encourage the community to take part in the parade instead of just lining the streets waving and cheering, parade officials have scheduled a float-building workshop on Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m.-noon at the Grange, 40 E. Fourth St., to explain the rules and help teams along with planning.
Applications for parade units – planned now or not – are already being accepted and the deadline – June 4 – is fast approaching.
“Let Freedom Ring” is the theme given to this year’s extravaganza. The Independence Day Parade committee (IDI) is has named 104-year-old Gerald Lewis, World War I and II veteran as Grand Marshal. Military personnel who served in the on-going Iraqi war will also be honored.
Bob and Maureen Hunt have organized the IDI parade for many years, putting their lives and jobs on hold for weeks in order to do so. They have put out the call for everyone to consider forming a parade unit, even if it’s just a group of friends or neighbors in costume, matching patriotic shirts or in variations of the Red, White and Blue.
Past favorites include stroller drill teams, precision teams using folding lawn chairs or briefcases or a band of kazoos. Actually, the drill team idea is applicable to almost any eye-catching object related to our occasionally frantic livestyles. And don’t forget to trot out your classic car.
Every July 4th parade has a few small children pulled along in little red wagons, decorated brightly, dog and goats decked out or bikes and trikes trailing red, white and blue streamers.
You can decorate a pickup truck and gather your friends, neighbors and children to ride and wave at the crowds on the sidewalk.
“It is fun, fun, fun,” the Hunts said, “and it shows clearly where you stand. Americans are known for their imagination and creativity. And, quiet, determined patriotism.”
The parade is just one of two days of July Fourth events, beginning July 3 with a Patriotic Sing by schoolchildren, an old fashioned Street Dance downtown and moving on to the Fourth with a 5k run/walk, the parade, an afternoon festival and, of course, fireworks at Community Park that night. The events are organized and produced entirely by IDI, a nonprofit group of Morgan Hill volunteers, co-sponsored with the City of Morgan Hill and underwritten by local businesses.
Parade applications are available at the Morgan Hill Library, 17575 Peak Ave., BookSmart at Second Street and Monterey Road, and the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, 17450 Monterey Street, Suite B, next to the Granada Theater. The deadline for applications is June 4.
Organizers ask that anyone knowing of any military service personnel returning who would be available on July 4 to contact the parade committee at 779-3387.
Details – or to volunteer – on the Independence Day celebration (July 3-4) are at www.mhidi.com or 779-3387. Parade information should be requested by June 1.
