‘Thank you’ to parade supporters

The Bella Vista Patriots host the Fourth of July Patriot Parade each year to celebrate Independence Day, and we do that by honoring our past and present military personnel.

Each year, we try to remember thanking the over a thousand people that it takes to make the biggest and best Fourth of July Parade in Arkansas. However, in our past eight years we have failed to recognize and give thanks to three very important supporters.

The first one is Steve Morrow, manager of Allen’s Food Market. Almost 10 years ago, he set up a kitchen in front of Allen’s and gave out free hot dogs and hamburgers to veterans and their families. When that ended, it gave the Bella Vista Patriots the idea to turn Steve’s generosity into a parade. In that regard, I think Steve can be said to be the founder of today’s current parade. We thank him.

The second person is Dee Ann Morrow, manager of Sugar Creek Shopping Center (no relation to Steve). The first call the Patriots make each year is to get her permission to conduct our parade in her mall. Each year, without hesitation she says, “Yes.” We thank her.

Morrow, of course, works at the behest of the third person that we want to thank, and that is Neff Basore of Cooper Communities Inc. We thank him.

The Patriots realize the sacrifice that Sugar Creek Shopping Center merchants make by losing business-as-usual when we have packed the parking lots and crowded the entrances to their stores. We have also allowed outside vendors to sell their wares that could have been purchased from our local merchants. Therefore, we have not invited outside vendors to the mall this year.

This year the Patriots are starting the pre-parade entertainment 30 minutes earlier so that shoppers will have more time after the parade to patronize our local merchants at Sugar Creek Shopping Center.

Again, the Bella Vista Patriots do not want to be remiss in thanking everyone who has a part in making this the biggest and best parade in Arkansas.

Sidebar: I was at the grocery store Monday and I was telling the store manager that I needed a flower bouquet for our 80-year-old Korean War Parade Queen.

A lady at the cash register overheard us and she wadded up three bills from her purse and handed them to me. She said her World War II father had just passed away and she just wanted to do something. I assumed the money was three $1 bills and I thanked her. She only gave me her first name. When I got home I unfolded the bills and it added up to $50. If the lady will give me a call, I would like to thank her properly for her generous support of the parade. Lt. Colonel, Jim Parsons (Ret.) Bella Vista