People's Parade celebrates independence
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Looking at the sea of spectators dressed in variations of red, white and blue clothing along Alabama Street Saturday, Army veteran Anthony Pierce felt a sense of honor and pride.
“Watching the crowd and seeing this many people here on this patriotic day, it’s a good feeling,” Pierce said. “You know all of the labor that has gone into securing our freedoms has not been in vain. It gives you a sense of honor and pride to know that people can come out and celebrate independence.”
Children barely old enough to stand on their own waved small American flags as they watched in awe at the passing floats and marchers during the Independence Day People’s Parade in Carrollton, organized by the Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club.
Pierce, who came to the parade with his wife, Tericka, and their two boys, Joshua, 10, and Jeremiah, 9, of Carrollton, said this was the family’s first time watching the event. Pierce said the Fourth of July carries a special meaning in his heart as he observes the holiday in memory of the U.S. servicemen and women who gave their lives to secure the country’s independence.
“This holiday is even more special with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan still fighting for our freedom and protection of our country,” he said.
Tericka Pierce said it is important that the country not take the sacrifices of America’s troops for granted.
“This is a day to honor those that made that ultimate sacrifice,” she said. “With no America, there is no Fourth of July. With the amount of people here today, it shows they are thankful.”
It was a contingent of veterans leading the annual parade through downtown Carrollton, drawing standing ovations as they moved down the parade route.
The Pierces’ son, Jeremiah, said that while he enjoyed all of the food, candy, and time spent with his parents on July 4, he also understood the significance behind the celebration.
“The Fourth of July is about the celebration of our freedom and all of the soldiers,” he said. “The food is also really great.”
June Drew, 88, of Carrollton is also a veteran of U.S. Armed Forces. She was one of the few women who flew planes during World War II. Her patriotism and paying tribute to military servicemen and women is something she celebrates year-round. It was the flags displayed on the floats and in the crowd that Drew enjoyed most about the parade.
“I love the flag,” she said. “I fly a flag every day of the year. The flag means so much to me. It’s important that we show how much we love our country and need to support our military. We need more than ever to support our troops, because you never know if they are coming back.”
Drew’s friend, Annie Boykin, 74, of Carrollton, sat beside her to watch the dozens of floats, bands, tractors and horses cross through Adamson Square. For Boykin, this was the 48th time she has been to the Carrollton parade.
“We’re here to celebrate Independence Day,” she said. “This is an important day for our country. The parade has only gotten better during the 48 years I’ve been here. The route’s changed, but there are more floats and people then ever.”
Pamela Levett of Carrollton said her brother has recently returned from his second tour of duty in the Army.
“This day is about celebrating our freedom,” she said. “This is our chance to celebrate for the servicemen still fighting in Iraq. It makes even more special to me with my brother, Jerrell Thomason, in the military. The fighting is still going on. I’m always very concerned for him and all of the servicemen, and God has allowed him to come home. The parade shows that the people stand by our troops 100 percent and know how important our freedom is.”
Temple resident Denise Biggs said Independence Day means celebrating freedom as an American citizen and as a Christian, the holiday is a also a spiritual celebration of freedom.
“Our country is founded on freedom, my own salvation becomes more real to me as I celebrate the freedoms of America and the freedom from sin and freedom from hell,” she said. “Our freedom is everything to us.”
Robin Akin, and her daughter, Kelsie, 13, of Bremen said they appreciated Independence Day even more with the country’s military presence still overseas.
“This day is about honor the soldiers too,” Kelsie Akin said. “The have fought for our us to have the freedom we have.”
Jane North of Carrollton said she wanted to see the America people become even more united, especially during difficult times such as the current recession.
“It’s more important than ever with the economy that we become united,” she said. “We still have the military continuing to fight for us, and we need to be united as a country behind them.”
“Watching the crowd and seeing this many people here on this patriotic day, it’s a good feeling,” Pierce said. “You know all of the labor that has gone into securing our freedoms has not been in vain. It gives you a sense of honor and pride to know that people can come out and celebrate independence.”
Children barely old enough to stand on their own waved small American flags as they watched in awe at the passing floats and marchers during the Independence Day People’s Parade in Carrollton, organized by the Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club.
Pierce, who came to the parade with his wife, Tericka, and their two boys, Joshua, 10, and Jeremiah, 9, of Carrollton, said this was the family’s first time watching the event. Pierce said the Fourth of July carries a special meaning in his heart as he observes the holiday in memory of the U.S. servicemen and women who gave their lives to secure the country’s independence.
“This holiday is even more special with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan still fighting for our freedom and protection of our country,” he said.
Tericka Pierce said it is important that the country not take the sacrifices of America’s troops for granted.
“This is a day to honor those that made that ultimate sacrifice,” she said. “With no America, there is no Fourth of July. With the amount of people here today, it shows they are thankful.”
It was a contingent of veterans leading the annual parade through downtown Carrollton, drawing standing ovations as they moved down the parade route.
The Pierces’ son, Jeremiah, said that while he enjoyed all of the food, candy, and time spent with his parents on July 4, he also understood the significance behind the celebration.
“The Fourth of July is about the celebration of our freedom and all of the soldiers,” he said. “The food is also really great.”
June Drew, 88, of Carrollton is also a veteran of U.S. Armed Forces. She was one of the few women who flew planes during World War II. Her patriotism and paying tribute to military servicemen and women is something she celebrates year-round. It was the flags displayed on the floats and in the crowd that Drew enjoyed most about the parade.
“I love the flag,” she said. “I fly a flag every day of the year. The flag means so much to me. It’s important that we show how much we love our country and need to support our military. We need more than ever to support our troops, because you never know if they are coming back.”
Drew’s friend, Annie Boykin, 74, of Carrollton, sat beside her to watch the dozens of floats, bands, tractors and horses cross through Adamson Square. For Boykin, this was the 48th time she has been to the Carrollton parade.
“We’re here to celebrate Independence Day,” she said. “This is an important day for our country. The parade has only gotten better during the 48 years I’ve been here. The route’s changed, but there are more floats and people then ever.”
Pamela Levett of Carrollton said her brother has recently returned from his second tour of duty in the Army.
“This day is about celebrating our freedom,” she said. “This is our chance to celebrate for the servicemen still fighting in Iraq. It makes even more special to me with my brother, Jerrell Thomason, in the military. The fighting is still going on. I’m always very concerned for him and all of the servicemen, and God has allowed him to come home. The parade shows that the people stand by our troops 100 percent and know how important our freedom is.”
Temple resident Denise Biggs said Independence Day means celebrating freedom as an American citizen and as a Christian, the holiday is a also a spiritual celebration of freedom.
“Our country is founded on freedom, my own salvation becomes more real to me as I celebrate the freedoms of America and the freedom from sin and freedom from hell,” she said. “Our freedom is everything to us.”
Robin Akin, and her daughter, Kelsie, 13, of Bremen said they appreciated Independence Day even more with the country’s military presence still overseas.
“This day is about honor the soldiers too,” Kelsie Akin said. “The have fought for our us to have the freedom we have.”
Jane North of Carrollton said she wanted to see the America people become even more united, especially during difficult times such as the current recession.
“It’s more important than ever with the economy that we become united,” she said. “We still have the military continuing to fight for us, and we need to be united as a country behind them.”
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