Gabriel Williams holds his son Thomas, 2 months, as they listen to the music during the 20th annual Patriotic Sing Friday evening at Britton Middle School.
Al Schmidt, a Navy veteran, salutes during the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the 20th annual Patriotic Sing Friday evening at Britton Middle School.
Morgan Hill has ample opportunity to show its colors as a true all-American hometown throughout the year, but July 4 is when it really shows.
Decked out in red, white and blue, more than 45,000 people - more than the 39,000 population of Morgan Hill - turned out for the 115th annual Independence Day Parade, which featured about 200 participants boasting children's groups, bands, businesses and dignitaries paying tribute to America's heroes. The parade's theme was "A Salute to America's Heroes."
For locals, the parade shows Morgan Hill's true colors as the small town in which they grew up.
Parade organizer Maureen Hunt said there were more bands than ever before this year, with 11 marching bands including Ann Sobrato High School's Swing Marching Band and at least 12 bands riding floats, like Morgan Hill Symphony, keeping the ongoing stream of floats, moats and boats grooving as scores of families and friends waving flags and cheering lined the parade's route, beginning at Fourth Street and Monterey Road north to Main Avenue, then continuing west to Peak and Dunne avenues, ending at Fifth street.
"I like the patriotic spirit, and seeing all the flags flying," said Paul Ward, who lives in the Paradise Valley area west of Morgan Hill. His parents moved to the then-pastoral area in 1894, and, while he moved away for a while, he came back in 1973 and hasn't missed a parade since.
"I just enjoy coming and meeting my old pals at the same place every year," Ward said.
Corine Bernard said she liked having a local parade within walking distance, and seeing a lot of locals both in the crowd and participating in the parade.
"It's nice to see that instead of a huge, Macy's Parade," she said. "Everyone is represented. We always enjoy it."
Local groups came out toting their causes.
Coldwell Banker proclaimed, "Our clients are our heroes," on their truck while the city's Environmental Programs Division staff traipsed along the route in toilet and shower costumes to represent water conservation. Santa Clara Valley Water District board member Rosemary Kamei was dressed as World War II working-class hero Rosie the Riveter. The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center was a hit again this year, with its featured hawks. The National Rifle Association Members Council had the largest float and it shot confetti into the air as it rode past.
The National Rifle Association took home the Northern California Judges Association's Grand Sweepstakes award for best overall float while Crossroads Christian Church's float took the prize for best depiction of the theme, Hunt said.
Sara Stalker said watching the Independence Day Parade makes her proud to be not just an American, but a Morgan Hill resident, too.
"There's not that many towns that do a parade any more. It's just very neat," Stalker said.
Hunt said the parade went off without a hitch this year.
"It was just a great parade. Great turnout, great spectators, great participants, and Mother Nature complied as well," she said. Saturday was sunny and warm, with temperatures in the 80s.
The parade was preceded by a car cruise featuring vintage cars and a 5K Race/Walk before that. On Friday night, about 50 children from Morgan Hill participated in the 20th annual Patriotic Sing serenading the crowd with "The Star-Spangled Banner," "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful."
The day's festivities continued into the evening with live entertainment at Morgan Hill Community Park and fireworks that thrilled thousands of onlookers.
Independence Day Incorporated President Brigitte Heiser said almost 50,000 people watched the fireworks that evening.
"I just really want to thank the community for supporting us financially," she said. The community donated about $16,000 before the events, and donations continue to trickle in - and are still being accepted, Heiser added.
"The behavior of the crowd was great. All in all, it was wonderful," Heiser said.
The Fourth of July Parade is one of the oldest of its kind in the nation, dating back to 1894, according to IDI's Web site, mhidi.com. Hundreds of volunteers spend months planning the three days' worth of activities.
Morgan Hill Police did not report any major incidents during the holiday. Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said while the dispatch center received up to 100 calls from citizens reporting backyard displays of illegal fireworks Friday and Saturday, police did not make any arrests or give out any citations.
"Most of the time we get there and (the suspects) are already gone, or the officers don't have time because they're responding to other calls," Neumayer said.
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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