Anna Flatt, one of the organizers of the city’s first Independence Day Parade in recent memory, said she has registered approximately 40 entries for Saturday’s event.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Central Park and finish at the Paradise Alley Market. The parade grand marshal is Ardmore vice mayor John Moore, who will ride in a vehicle furnished by Brad Fenton Motors.
Flatt and other members of Voices for Common Sense, the group that hosted the local taxpayer protesters’ “tea party” earlier this year, hope the parade will become an annual event. She said the event is strictly non-partisan.
“There are a lot of protests going on (this weekend) that are similar to those on tax day,” she said. “We wanted to do something positive and patriotic instead.”
Flatt said the parade will be led by the color guard from the local Army Reserve unit. The color guard from VFW Post 4574 also will participate. Other participants include the Ardmore Fire Department, the Milo Roundup Club, Star Carriage, various antique automobile owners, volunteers from the Ratliff City and Fox-Graham Fire Departments, Patriot Guard motorcycle riders and “a lot of family entries with kids riding their bikes.”
“I encourage people to put on their red, white and blue and help us celebrate Independence Day,” she said.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
