Patriotism and hometown spirit
JOSA SNOW | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 5 months AGO
Trojans on the Post Falls High School football team kick off the Post Falls parade with a giant American flag. Attendees stand to honor the flag.
JOSA SNOW/Press
Declan and Fiona wave a small American flag while they anxiously await more candy and prizes from the Post Falls parade participants Saturday.
Bella Rautatas nibbles an Otter Pop while candy piles up around her at her first parade Saturday.
Aiden Mattare, riding his all-American dinosaur, hands out flags to kids during the Post Falls parade Saturday.
Fort Sherman DAV Chapter 9 Commander Joe Bordelon tapes some American flags to the side of the DAV parade float for the Post Falls parade Saturday.
The North Idaho Sparklers marched in their third parade this week. The nonprofit was formed in January to support the North Idaho community and to bring people joy.
Post Falls Family Dental tooth fairy.
Child throws candy from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue staff car.
Washington State Fallen Heroes Project soldiers’ cross.
The sun was shining as people happily celebrated Post Falls on Saturday with a parade along Seltice Way.
Part of the Post Falls Festival, the parade was both a celebration of patriotism and hometown spirit, and the community showed up en masse.
“You have to stand for the flag,” one attendee told her children as the Post Falls High School football team kicked off the parade carrying a huge American flag. A few footballers walked beneath it to keep Old Glory's edges from touching the street.
Kids lined up to catch candy, being thrown by parade participants as they made their way through the city.
Some participants were seasoned veterans, like the Disabled American Veterans of Fort Ground Sherman Chapter 9, who led the parade from Spokane Street to Idaho Street. DAV members have been participating in roughly four events a year for years, Commander Joe Bordelon said.
“This is parade season,” he said. “Wherever they’re at, we’re jumping in them.”
Others were fresh to the parade scene, like the North Idaho Sparklers. The Sparklers is a nonprofit group formed in January to bring joy to the community. Members dance and perform and uplift people through fundraising and volunteer work.
“Our whole premise was to bring some kindness and some cheer and community service to Northern Idaho,” Sparklers chief Kelly Dickey said.
Despite being new to the scene this is the Sparklers’ third parade this year, and they’ve loved everyone.
“We can’t wait,” Dickey said while the Sparklers waited for the parade to start. “It is so fun to get out there. We purchased small American flags that we’re handing out to the kids, and they are so excited to get them. As you’re dancing and moving along the parade route — to see the joy. You get to see the community from a very special spot.”
Some attendees were longtime Post Falls Parade veterans, some were new faces.
“We didn’t want to miss the parade,” Natalie Gillilan said. Gillilan was born and raised in Post Falls and brings her four kids every year. “The boys can’t ever miss the fire trucks and police cars.”
And her daughters like the ambulance.
"This is her first parade," said Bella Ratauta's mother.
Bella, 3, fell a bit behind and left a few pieces of candy on the ground while she munched on a freeze pop.
“It’s been a while so I wanted to go,” Eden Dale said. She brought her bearded dragon, Pogona, to enjoy the sunshine and soak up some attention. “He loves to be petted."
New businesses like the veteran-owned Nurse Next Door and Post Falls anchors like P1FCU lined up to support the community. Others like the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and Blazing Divaz lined up to share fun, patriotism and civic pride.
“We are Trojans,” shouted the Post Falls High School cheer squad. “Trojan Power.”
The Post Falls Festival is continuing until 4 p.m. today at Q'emiln Park with craft and food vendors, music, inflatables and a beer garden.
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