Fourth fun, freedom, fireworks
MOORE — Cars, vendors, children's activities and helicopter rides were part of the Fourth of July Celebration in the Heartland.
The event was held Tuesday in Buck Thomas Park, 1903 NE 12, capped off by a fireworks display.
Moore Assistant City Manager Todd Jenson said the Show Your Ridez car, truck and motorcycle show attracted 191 vehicles this year. Jenson is in charge of the parks department.
Norman resident Butch Turner, 68, entered his motorcycle that honors U.S. service members killed during the Vietnam War. The U.S. Navy veteran said he built the motorcycle from the ground up, except for the motor.
Draped beneath the motorcycle was the yellow and red flag of the former South Vietnam, and the rear fender showed those same colors. Turner said he built the motorcycle "in memory of the guys I served with." During the war, Turner served in helicopters in a combat support group.
"We mainly recovered downed pilots," he said.
A plaque in front of his motorcycle reads: "In Memory 1959 to 1975, 58,479 brothers and sisters who never returned."
Bret Ellard, of Shawnee, attended the show with his 1978 "Golden Special Edition" Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Ellard said when he bought the car in 2000, it had only 18,000 miles on the odometer. The original owner had driven the car and then placed it into climate-controlled storage. In the front window was the dealer sticker with the original price tag of $8,888.
DWTA Helicopters, of Wichita, Kansas, offered helicopter rides for $40. Dawn Zon, who was taking people to and from the landing area, said the company's Robinson 44 craft can carry three passengers and the pilot. They usually do 50 to 75 flights a day at the Moore event. Jenson said this was DWTA's third year at the celebration.
The Happy Train offered another transportation mode. The train was powered by a small John Deere tractor that pulled eight cars. Dean Stone was the engineer, and he said the Happy Train is owned by Cornerstone Kids' Ranch of Ada.
Stone said the rides were a fundraiser for the children's ranch.
"We'll probably see 1,000 kids today," he said. He described the Moore celebration as "one of the highlight days of our year."
By 2 p.m., Jenson said it was estimated 5,000 people had attended the Celebration in the Heartland. He said that figure would grow to about 15,000 by the time the fireworks started.