Patriots’ Best of List

Bella Vista Fourth of July Patriot Parade organizer Jim Parsons released the Best-Of list for this year’s event.

SPEAKER: State Rep. Kim Hendren; Edward Jones Broker Alex Huff

PRAYER: Air Force Chaplain Col. Don Cowell (Ret.)

SOLOIST: Village Baptist Church, Phyllis Farish

PAST GRAND MARSHALS: W.O. Forrest Strickler and Cpt. George Brannon

CITY OFFICIALS: Bella Vista Mayor Peter Christie; Fire Chief Steve Sims; Police Chief Jim Graves

SPONSORS: Concordia Retirement Center, Steve Dean; Allen’s Discount Foods, Steve Morrow; Bella Vista Recycle Center, Wally Sheldon

BANDS: United Lutheran Church Band Director, Lois Carlson; Ozark Highlander Bagpipe Band Director Dennis Sisson

SPECIAL EFFECTS: White Wing Loft Doves, Julie Robins; Rifle Salute, Bella Vista Honor Guard, Charlie Brietzke; Civil War Cannon Salute, NWA Historical Society, Paul Dolle

TAPS: The Two Trumpets, Keith Wood and Armando Gutierrez

WAR RE-ENACTORS: Mike and Andrew Patrick and Carlos Valdez

DANCERS: Sophisticated Ladies, Director Carol Roller

PARADE GRAND MARSHAL: Staff Sergeant, Andy Anderson (RET), World War II

FLOAT: 4-H Club (Cooper Elementary School), Sponsor Cassie Smith; USS Snook Base, Submarine Veterans, Commander, Pete Rathmell; Cruisin’ America for Jesus Through High School Athletes — Chairman David Simms; Concordia Retirement Center: Director Sharon Bettis; The Village Plumber, Owner Tim and Julie Hull

CHURCHES: Village Baptist Church, Pastor Harold Johnson; Village Bible Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Mark Voll; Bella Vista Community Church, Organizer Bob Heffron; Bella Vista Church of the Nazarene, Organizer Sandy Yates; United Lutheran Church, Band Director Lois Carlson

MARCHING UNIT:

Knights of Columbus, Chuck Fiebig; Bentonville Girl Scouts, Scout Master Melanie Billing; Cub Scout Pack 525, Pack Leader Julie Hull

MILITARY MARCHING UNIT: Color Guard, Cdr. Mark Lloyd; Five Branches of the Military, NCO David Nieman; Civil Air Patrol 115th, Major Charles Rine; Group of Veterans, American Legion Cdr. Lt. Col. Jean Meacham (Ret.); American Legion Auxiliary, Commander Jennifer Montgomery

VETERAN SUPPORT GROUP: Sheep Dogs, Sgt. Maj. Lance Nutt; Disabled Veterans (DAV), Reverend Richard McCall; Team Red, White and Blue of NWA, Julie Duncan; DAR, Lovely Purchase Chapter, President Dr. Gretchen McGee; DAR, James Bright Chapter, President Frances Rankin; SAR, Bella Vista Chapter, President Bob Miskimen

MOTORCYCLE GROUP:

American Legion Riders, Cdr. Pat O’Brien; Combat Veterans Motorcycle Group, Commander Steve “Top” Real; Patriot Guard, Commander DeWayne Uselton; Family Motorcycles, Sharon Copelin; Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA), Leader Jim Gore

MILITARY VEHICLES: Arkansas Army National Guard, SFC Clyde Osterhout

ANTIQUE CARS: State Rep. Kim Hendren 1929 Model A Ford, Vern Meyer 1956 Chevy pickup truck, James Marshall Corvette, Steve Conrad; 2005 Volkswagen Convertible, Bill and Shirley Gilbert; Electric Cars, Owners Oliver and Tiffany Turner; 1928 Model “A” Ford, Owner David Morris; 1953 Chevy Flatbed, Owner Dave Morris; 1951 Chevy P.U., Owner Matt Morris; 1975 Eldorado Cadillac, Owner Ron Sanders; 1932 Ford Yellow Roadster, Owner Monty and Marge Grimm

PARADE QUEENS: 4th of July Patriot Parade Queen Kim Hendrickson; Miss Benton County Kinsley Hurt; Miss Benton County Junior Falyn Cordeiro; Miss Benton County Preteen Kinzie Hill; Little Miss Benton County, Raley Dilbeck; Miss Benton County Tiny Tot Jordan Harper; Mister Benton County Tiny Tot Eli Whitaker

CHEERLEADERS: Bentonville High School Cheerleaders, Director Tracey Kaufman

CLUBS: Cooper Elementary 4-H Club, Sponsor Cassie Smith; DAR, Lovely Purchase Chapter, President Dr. Gretchen Magee; Bright Chapter, Wanda Bautts and President Frances Rankin; SAR, Bella Vista Chapter, President Reverend Bob Miskimen Disabled Veterans, Chairman Rev. Richard McCall

DECORATED GOLF CART: Owner Harland Phillips

STATE FLAG: Oklahoma Flag, Shari Ogburn

DOG WALKER: Bella Vista Animal Shelter, Director Dee Dee Matney

BICYCLE: GPP Bicycles, Owner Seth Jacobs; Mojo Cycling, Owner David Neal

BUSES: “Cruisin’ America for Jesus,” Chairman David Simms; Concordia Retirement Center, Director Sharon Bettis

HORSES: Pony for Hire, Owner Alex Joyce; Four horses, Owner Susan Sullivan, Flying Q Farms

PATRIOTIC FIGURES: Captain America, Tyler Volz; Mrs. Uncle Sam, Karen Saginetti; Wonder Woman, Alyssa Osterhout; Super Girl, Sidney Grutz

CAR COMPANIES: Nunnally Chevrolet, Driver Ken Sharp

VOLUNTEERS: Sound System, Jeff Goan; high school sophomore Tommy Murray; Patriot members Chris Urban, Marie Harris and Chris Freehauf.