Flags flew; children were decked out in red, white and blue; crowds gathered; runners ran; tributes were paid; and lots of watermelon was eaten on the Fourth of July 2019 in Highland Falls!
The two-day celebration started with bed races and a hula hoop contest on Main St. on Wednesday evening, followed by a tribute to parade grand marshals Lillie Mims and Barbara Joyce Clayborne at Memorial Park. Also at the park, Danny and the Cruisers played a free concert, and ribbons were given out for the most patriotically decorated bicycles, strollers and wagons.
Thursday morning saw nearly 250 runners and walkers take to the same street those bed races had been run on. They participated in the Firecracker 5K, where recent O’Neill High School graduate and track start Tony Njoga easily came in first place. The race, which was staffed by about a dozen volunteers led by Dean Jaeger, concluded with a children’s fun run.
Not too long after the last finishers in the race made their way down Main St., the much-anticipated parade started its trek south. Emergency vehicles, children’s sports teams and scouts, patriotic groups from around the region, General George Washington, Elvis, floats, Santa Claus (wearing a Hawaiian shirt and in a fishing boat!), dignitaries, and others all participated.
A highlight of the parade, as always, were dozens of US Army soldiers marching — they were fed by volunteers once they got to the end of the parade route.
Once the parade was over, most hot, sweaty people went home or to Independence Day parties for a little bit to cool off, and then most made their way to Roe Park for family fun — running with an egg in a spoon seemed popular — including a messy watermelon eating contest. Food vendors were on hand with tasty treats, DJ Pat Mahan kept the crowd dancing, and finally, at 9:30 p.m., nearly a half-hour’s worth of fireworks lit up the sky.
All of the events were coordinated by a small Fourth of July Committee, led by Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio.
