GEORGE — The town of George, Washington began its existence as a city on July 4, 1957, and it’s been celebrating America ever since. But this Independence Day marked a quarter of a millennium of American history, and that meant going above and beyond the usual festivities.

“I love the enthusiasm people have for the red, white and blue this year,” said Marissa Vela of Ephrata, who had her Blessed Beads vendor booth set up at the George Community Park. “I think it makes America feel so (much) heart with the 250th year, plus the World Cup. I’m loving that vibe.”

George’s celebration had many of the elements that have been par for the course in past years: the parade, the patriotic program with song and speakers and the town’s trademark, the world’s largest cherry pie.  In addition, there was a historical display by the Quincy Valley Historical Society, where reenactors showed kids how Benjamin Franklin’s printing press worked, recounted the experiences of a young Revolutionary War soldier and let them sign the Declaration of Independence with an actual quill pen. The display made the rounds of Quincy-area elementary schools earlier this year, said QVHS Director Harriet Weber, and gave those students a perspective they might not otherwise have had.

“(The children) understand that it is America’s birthday and that we have freedoms that are worth celebrating,” Weber said. “There’s a lot of people in our country that aren’t very excited about this (anniversary) because of their view of our country, but I think there are a lot of people who are very excited about celebrating America’s 250th.”

Another first was the addition of a professional musical act. Jeremy McCombs and the Honky-Tonk Circus played a ticketed show sponsored by Veterans Operation Creation. 

“(McComb) just had a concert in Oregon and he had 6,000 people,” said VOC member Debra Adams. 

VOC also provided the choir that sang the National Anthem for George’s traditional Patriotic Program in the park. Brent Dowlen served as MC, and George Mayor Juan Villalpando led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were recitations of patriotic poetry and some of America’s founding documents, and the Choppers Brass band led the crowd in singing “American the Beautiful.” The brand consisted of performers both visiting and local, said leader Stacey Eliason.

“Five of us came from the Seattle area,” Eliason said. “And we have two performers from Quincy High School (who) rehearsed with us yesterday, and we made a really great eight-person group.”

Choppers Brass also participated in the grand parade, riding on a flatbed truck and playing Dixieland music as the parade wound up one side of Montmorency Boulevard and down the other. The parade included fire trucks with blaring sirens and spraying hoses watering down the crowds, vintage cars, trucks and tractors, political candidates, dancing horses and lots of candy flying out to eager children. 

The Father of our Country also rode in the parade, in the person of Joseph Brent Adams of Ephrata, who waved to the crowd from the back of a utility task vehicle. The costume was a holdover from a time when Adams wore it to promote his fireworks stand, he said. He brought it out occasionally when the Georgettes, George’s civic service club for women, asked him to make an appearance. This year was an especially good time to participate, Adams said.

“I felt it was a lot more attended and there’s a lot more flags,” he said. “Today is very, very American-focused.”

    Amaya Cruz, 3 (left) and Mateo Cruz, 2, gather candy at the George Fourth of July Parade Saturday.
  

    A row of flags from different times in America’s history adorns George’s celebration of the 250th Independence Day Saturday.
  

    The Veterans Operation Creation choir sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” in four-part harmony at the Fourth of July celebration in George Saturday.
  

    The design for George’s community cherry pie, billed as the world’s largest, changes every year and this year’s pie marked the semiquincentennial of the U.S.’ founding.