Crowd unites on Flagler
Spirits lifted at 29th annual Independence Day event.
As thousands gathered Tuesday under clear skies in downtown West Palm Beach to walk along the Intracoastal Waterway, listen to live music and indulge in street vendor food, the spirit of the annual Fourth on Flagler event was alive and well.
For the hundreds of people who camped out in lawn chairs along the Intracoastal Waterway in anticipation of the evening’s 18-minute fireworks display, Tuesday evening was a chance to see the greater West Palm Beach community come together and celebrate.
“It’s nice to see people enjoy the outside and communicating,” said Boynton Beach resident Bertha Richie, who was attending the event for the first time with her husband, Kees. “It’s nice to see the children and the grown-ups and families coming together.”
Richie said they usually attend Boynton’s Fourth of July event, but since the city chose to hold its event on July 1 this year, they made the drive to check out Fourth on Flagler.
“It’s nice and beautiful,” she said. “We’ve heard so many good things about it and really wanted to see it. It’s very well organized. The environment is nice here.”
Kees Richie said there was one thing in particular that drew him to West Palm Beach’s festivities. Keep up with The Post’s complete coverage of West Palm Beach on its Facebook page dedicated to the city. On Facebook, search for Post on West Palm Beach.
“My main attraction was the Intracoastal. I really love coming to the Intracoastal,” he said.
In its 29th year, the event featured four live music acts, including Emily Brooke, who appeared on the final season of “American Idol,” country artist Grayson Rogers, the Dee Dee Wilde Band and West Palm Beach-based band Making Faces.
Attendees also watched a military honor ceremony before the fireworks display, and took part in art exhibitions and children’s activities, which included human-size bowling, a 30-footlong inflatable obstacle course and mini-golf.
Althea Armstrong volunteered for the event for the first time with 15 others from the Roos-
evelt Estates Neighborhood Association. She said seeing a community come together in such a substantial way gave her hope for the future.
“It’s a beautiful day, so you just make the best of it,” she said. “It still gives me hope that there are people willing to help and expect nothing in return.”
As Making Faces wrapped up its nearly two-hour-long set of classics, newer music and original songs, lead singer John DeMatteo told the crowd the band wanted to give a tribute “to everything that makes this country great.”
“Here we are, united, united, united ...” he said. “Don’t ever forget how awesome this country is.”