CELEBRATING AMERICA
People enjoy annual Fourth of July celebration in Clifton Park
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> The Clifton Park Fourth of July celebration is advertised as an all-day celebration of America’s birthday. There is a parade to get the day underway, amusement rides, food vendors, craft stalls, free musical entertainment and a huge fireworks display at dusk.
Though hosted by the town, the event draws residents from southern Saratoga County, the Capital Region, and far beyond.
Some who come great distances come for a variety of reasons; because of the time of year, a graduation, or simply a chance to spend a few weeks with loved ones in warm weather. But in making their plans, many take note of the event’s neighborly feel, its comfortable location, and all that it has to offer without any admission.
Thursday’s parade began forming at 10:30 a.m. on the Shenendehowa School District campus. Troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts gathered near their floats under a brilliant morning sun. Athletic teams formed into walking groups, small businesses pulled up their trailers and vans, choral groups sought the shade of their floats, while dozens of old and new fire vehicles pulled into a long line in a campus parking lot.
By 11 a.m. families had already claimed spots along Route 147 just outside the campus while others were searching for similar spots at the route’s critical turn on to Vischer Ferry Road.
By 11:15 a.m. chairs were in place for members of the Walsh and Murphy families under a shade canopy a few feet from the road and yards from an ice cream truck. Several American flags had been stuck in the ground in front of the canopy’s frame giving it a military headquarters feel.
“I showed up at 9 a.m.,” said Bob Walsh. “I come out every year at that time to get the best spot. I try and get a spot where people we know who are on a float can see us. One of our group has her grandfather riding in one of the Jonesville Fire Department trucks.”
A few yards further down the road the Pinnell family had set up their canopy.
“We just got here,” said Brittany Pinnell as she straightened several chairs. “We just lucked out with this. I expect there will be more people as the parade gets closer.”
Pinnell was correct. As the first sound of fifes and drums were heard, more families could be seen filling in spots along the road that had been open just moments before. A look down the road found a sea of red and white dressed bodies nervously moving awaiting the parade.
Within moments the road was filled with the crisp march of a color guard unit, elected officials, a float of
march of a color guard unit, elected officials, a float of veterans from the American Legion, groups of Boy Scouts, floats of Girl Scouts, The Clifton Park Community Chorus, Corvettes, Mustangs, antique cars, and fire apparatus.
In between words of acknowledgment between parade participants and parade viewers, there were tossed sweets, miniature Frisbees, and dog toys.
“How did you get here so fast,” one firefighter yelled from his fire truck to a man seated in a chair on the side of the road.
“Back roads,” the man yelled back smiling.
With the conclusion of the parade came the formal start of the day’s celebration. The American flag was raised by members of Boy Scout Troop 246, the National Anthem was performed by the Capital District Marching Band, an Honor Guard volley was discharged by members of American Legion Mohawk Post 1498, and brief remarks were made by several elected officials who had marched in the parade.
“Today we celebrate the country’s birthday knowing that as a nation we are that beacon of hope to freedom-loving people around the world,” said Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam. “We are unique among the nations of the world for a great cluster of diversity; one that makes us that given nation that welcomes all. So on this day, the birthday of that great nation’s independence we go forward in a spirit of continuing to prevail upon [our] history and making certain that we offer ourselves as a nation that respects all of our character and values as we go forward.”
In his remarks, Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville, gave credit to the country’s military personnel past, present, and future and warned that liberty and freedom are ideas that are under attack.
“We have to be mindful today and vigilant that there are forces out there within our communities and within this nation and within this world that don’t want to just destroy our buildings, don’t want to just kill us as Americans, that’s secondary, they want to destroy freedom and liberty,” he said. “But, they never can. They never can as we salute America today as being the greatest nation in the world on its birthday because of one reason, the men and women, now, in the past, and in the future who will always be there to stand up and sacrifice everything so we could have everything as a nation.”
Town Supervisor Philip Barrett noted that until someone invents a better one the U.S. is the best country on earth.
“The Constitution ensures that we will have the ability to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” he said. “America will continue to be the beacon of hope, a sanctuary of freedom and a venue to achieve the best of one’s self, to achieve self-reliance, and most of all to achieve and pursue self-determination and that’s a freedom that we should never, never, ever take for granted.”