Celebrating America
Devin Heilman | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Fireworks explode over Lake Coeur d'Alene Thursday as part of the city's Fourth of July festivities.</p>
<p>Spectators watch the fireworks display in Coeur d'Alene. Tens of thousands attend the event each year.</p>
<p>From left, Aubrey Voorhees, Cate Storey, both 3, and Emmie Mail, 4, wave American flags Thursday during the Fourth of July parade along Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Sarah Windisch plays the tuba while marching with The Perfection-Nots in her 11th year with the band.</p>
<p>Dressed in patriotic colors, Jenni Gaertner rides in front of her husband Mike with a group representing Coeur d'Fondo in the parade.</p>
<p>A group of young cyclists with Cherry Hill BMX ride along Sherman Avenue.</p>
<p>Bailey Banker, a cheerleader with Spotlight Studios North Star, 17, performs a flip after being launched several feet into the air during the Fourth of July parade.</p>
<p>Leo Hanley, 6, waves a flag while watching the parade from the shade.</p>
<p>Sarah Pennington, of Rathdrum, 23, walks her poodle Elise with the 4-H Rolling Thunder Drill team.</p>
<p>Cash Preston, of Post Falls, 4, rides a wooden bike on Sherman Avenue while he waits for the start of the Fourth of July parade.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The American Heroes Parade the morning of the Fourth of July drew thousands of spectators, many sporting the colors of Old Glory. Little hands waved little flags as nearly 100 floats and vehicles paraded down Sherman Avenue. Red, white and blue tinsel sparkled in the sun while friends and families came together to celebrate America's independence in downtown Coeur d'Alene style.
And a robot drove Discover Technology's float while bobbing its head to "Gangnam Style."
Ah, America.
Pat Clement, 75, of Coeur d'Alene, wore a black shirt with fireworks patterns. She and her grandson, Rob Lloyd, of Coeur d'Alene, found a place to watch the parade close to Sherman and 15th Street.
"I've always liked to go to parades," Clement said. "I like to see little kids watching the parades. They get so involved and so excited."
Lloyd said he had to miss the last two parades because of work, and said he feels the Fourth of July is a very memorable thing.
"I just wanted to go for the celebration," he said. His favorite part of the parade is seeing the military presence, while his grandma said she likes the school bands.
Music was a huge part of the celebration.
Ross Welburn and his wife, Sheryn, of Hayden, drove a 1930 Model A Ford, "Tin Lizzie," complete with a circus air calliope powered by a generator. The calliope was modeled after those made in the 1920s, and released a jovial tune.
"It's really brightly voiced, shrill, a lot of harmonics, really noisy," Welburn said, smiling as he described some calliope history. A reproduction of an old advertisement for Tangley calliopes was attached to the contraption's side. He fired up the circus-sounding music. Sheryl said what she enjoys about parades is "the noise," she said with a laugh. "The music. It's always the music."
The parade began at 15th Street at 11 a.m. with the Idaho National Guard's vehicles leading the way. Entries stretched east to 20th Street, where gymnasts, horses, politicians, Shriners, limo drivers, dancers and other parade participants waited in anticipation of the annual procession in the name of Independence Day.
Mark Carrington shares his birthday with America. He celebrated by making a parade debut and driving a float for Coeur d'Alene Building Supply with his manager, Mike Uemoto. Carrington served time in the Navy and now works as a crane operator. He said his day would include a barbecue and that his favorite part of the Fourth is the fireworks. Uemoto agreed about the fireworks, and said he was looking forward to "spending time with family and a day off."
Lake City High School junior varsity cheerleaders found a cool spot in the shade to hang out before the parade began.
Kyndal Mesenbrink, 13, is an incoming freshman who was also making her parade debut.
"It's actually really exciting," she said. "It's very nerve-racking though, I guess, because there's a ton of people watching." The squad had to be downtown at 9:30 to practice its parade routine.
Parade pooches Toby and Wally rode in the Kootenai County Humane Society's new truck, which had recently been donated to the organization. It was the Humane Society's first time in the parade.
"I didn't realize you couldn't toss things anymore so I was hoping to give some dog treats to dogs," said Brad Nelson, a customer service worker for the society. "We're just drawing some attention so we can get homes for more of them."
So many sights, so many sounds, and so many smiles on the faces of the kids. A little after noon, the masses dispersed, and people continued to the next part of their Fourth of July festivities.