Published: July 04, 2008 09:21 pm            

Fun-filled Fourth: Hundreds gather for Jeffersonville parade

The Fourth of July means a great deal to Cheryl Skinner.

“It means that I have the freedom to do what I want to do,” she said. “I’ve traveled to other countries and it’s different.”

Skinner was one of the hundreds of people sitting along Spring Street in Jeffersonville on Friday morning during the city’s annual Fourth of July parade. Young and old watched as cars, trucks and floats claimed the street.

Riders, walkers and convertible-sitters tossed out candy and offered smiles and waves to the cheering crowds, in honor of America’s independence.

“It was great,” said Brian Boyer, a parade-watcher from Indianapolis who was there with his 9-year-old son. Both enjoyed the old cars that were involved in the event. “And the new ones too,” he said.

They were in town because Boyer’s father-in-law was a member of the Rascals of Ragtime, a brass band that further entertained the crowd with patriotic-tunes-a-plenty during the event.

All this took place during one of the rainless periods early Friday afternoon.

“At first, we kind of thought there wasn’t as many people (as years previous,)” said Jim McCoskey, one of the parade committee members who helped organize the event.

He added, however, “it looks like there are quite a few people here, so I hope the rain doesn’t scare anybody off.”

McCoskey pointed out that the parade was not affiliated with a political party or cause.

“It’s just to celebrate the Fourth, our men and women in uniform,” he said. “I think we can do that one day a year.”

Mayor Tom Galligan spoke briefly about the event, thanking the crowd for coming.

“Everybody coming down here today — it’s a very, very good thing,” he said. “You showing up shows a lot of pride in your community.”

        

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