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Ashby goes red, white and blue
Published 6:00am Sunday, July 5, 2009It was a sight to see Friday afternoon in Ashby as children of all ages dressed in red, white and blue for the annual Fourth of July weekend parade.
The Red, White and Blue Parade began 11 years ago as a small gathering of kids from Benson’s Day Care in Ashby, and has now become an event attended by those from within Ashby and surrounding communities.
Though no formal plans had ever been made to expand the event, it eventually grew in popularity among youngsters.
“This is just the kind of thing that Ashby does,” said coordinator Megan Jensen. “For a lot of people, this is the only big Fourth of July tradition.”
Children sported red, white and blue sunglasses, shirts, hats and anything else that fit with the patriotic theme. And they didn’t stop there. Their bikes, which they rode in the parade, were also adorned with colorful tassels and flags.
And though the rain was steady coming down, they continued on with their plans, riding their bikes throughout the town and waving to those who came out to cheer them on.
The event also proved to be a bit of a history lesson for students, with special appearances from Uncle Sam, Abe Lincoln and the Kennedys, to name a few.
This year’s parade had a bit of a unique twist, with a special dedication made to the late Tom Chamberlin, who for eight years served as the parade’s Uncle Sam. Chamberlin’s grandson, Jose Reedy, wore the Uncle Sam costume this year for the first time, carrying on the tradition in his grandfather’s name.
Claudia-LaValleur, who dressed as the Statue of Liberty, was thrilled with the opportunity to once again celebrate America’s independence with the group of children.
“I like that the children are learning about historical people,” LaValleur said. “It’s so important that children realize how blessed we are to live in America.”
