Sunday, July 05, 2009

Fourth of July Parade



If you can look at that picture and not feel good about apple pie, mom, and the good ole US of A there's something wrong with you. I'm sorry but there's just no other way to put it.

As I'm sure you've guessed, this was taken during the Fourth of July parade in Hutchinson yesterday. This dad and daughter were a few feet away from me and I couldn't resist the Americana moments.

One thing I love about the Fourth is that people dress up in their festive best. This little girl has stars on her dress, and even dad is wearing red.

Some people take it up a notch. I would call this a bold choice, but ever so appropriate.



This girl was mulling over her choice.



This young lady had gone for the understated look with only a head scarf.



The other reason I choose this photo of her is because of the tractors in the background. This is an agricultural area, so we always have antique tractors in the parade, which I think is just darned cool. But I loved that this guy took it a step further. Remember this when you've got extra tractors - you use one to pull two more on a flatbed. Now that is good old fashioned, American ingenuity at work.

The Hutchinson parade has an antique horse-drawn hearse, antique tractor trailers and antique cars.



But we also like to start them young.



Then there are cars you don't expect, including this art car courtesy of the Hutchinson Public Library.



There are also people you don't expect in a parade. Like this one.



You might assume he was with the animal shelter folks you see behind him, but he wasn't. He was with the float in front of him, which was for a local exercise place. Why he's wearing a gorilla mask, I'm not sure, but I bet he's glad it was cooler yesterday than it was last week.

Of course, there are also people you expect to see in a Fourth of July Parade, like those waving flags.



That's Nancy closest to us and Trish in the middle. They were marching with the Reno County Democrats. I just love the way Nancy's flag is waving.

The coolest float was definitely the Cosmosphere's, with Astronaut Joe Engle as Grand Marshal.



And I'm not saying that just because I have a vested interest. I mean just look at it - it's cool.

The parade was a beautiful piece of Americana, as it usually is. I felt the need for some apple pie, but missing that, we had some Roy's barbecue.



Finally, ladies and gentleman, I would like to show you a picture of a real man. That's him, right there - a true American hero - a dad who's not afraid to carry his daughter's pink sparkly purse full of candy gathered during the Fourth of July parade, so she can hold her flag. He's secure in himself. He's confident with it.

I admire parents, especially really good ones. What's more Americana than a good dad? Not much I can think of.
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Patsy
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