Independence Day 2014

Today 238 years ago, the United States of America declared independence from Great Britain claiming the unalienable rights with which God has endowed each person: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and assuming among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitled them.  

Since, the 4th of July has been a celebration throughout the country.  This year we joined family in Shell Rock, Iowa to watch the town's Independence Day parade.  

We arrived 20 minutes early and set up our lawn chairs; we were surprised to see that the streets of this small town of 1,300+ people were already lined everywhere with people.

The procession was led by the local police and sheriff cars followed by representatives of the Air Force, Marines, Navy, and Army with flags and rifles.  Next were two Boy Scouts and one other boy carrying a Shell Rock banner.  Miss Shell Rock followed them in an open convertible, throwing candy to the children. 

A car dealership float was next, also carrying candy-throwers.  Many of the people in the parade threw candy to the children.  Others gave away popsicles, bottled water, corn dogs, lip balm, notepads, pens, and water bottle holders, and t-shirts were launched from a rocket from one trailer.

The Shell Rock Music Association and one other band drove by on the back of semi-trailers singing and playing patriotic songs. (Click photos for larger version)

 

The fire departments from Shell Rock, Allison, Clarksville, Readlyn, Waverly, New Hartford, Denver, Janesville, and Tripoli paraded their old and new fire engines (A few of the neatest are pictured above).  There was also an ambulance and a paramedics' vehicle and the New Hartford Fire Department had a boat.  But I think the local children liked the New Hartford fire engine best:

There were several well-equipped water guns and sprayers throughout the parade in case anyone beside the road got too hot.  The children near us would yell for "Water, water!" whenever any members of the water brigade went by so they could get wet.  

The Boy Scouts were very well equipped--the troop above for making sure none of the audience became overheated and the troop below to cross any terrain and come out alive.

Of course, a parade in Iowa wouldn't be truly Iowan without tractors!

 Above: Allis Chambers and a 1944 Farmall B

1952 8N Ford and a 730 Diesel John Deere

A John Deere 620 and a Farmall

Case and an International Cub

Allis Chambers and Massey Harris

An Oliver and another John Deere

And the parade wasn't over yet!  Part 2 will be posted soon with old cars, dogs, horses, politicians, performers, remote control cars, and even a drone!