The Military Memorial Museum leading Cumberland County’s July 4th Parade, honoring America’s 250th and the Declaration of Independence.
Military Memorial Museum President Mark Pfaffenroth said entry is free, but the deadline is this week. Pfaffenroth said it was important to make this parade accessible for all.
“We just hope that they’re going to take away a sense of pride, a patriotic pride,” Pfaffenroth said, “Maybe bring together some of the divisiveness in this country and just make people realize that we all think differently about a lot of things, but we all have one thing in common and it is this country and it is our freedom.”
Pfaffenroth said this new addition to the annual festivities was requested by Mayor Allen Foster to specifically honor the nation’s milestone birthday. Pfaffenroth said the children’s parade will lead the way.
“Well, I think just besides the birth of our nation, 250 years of freedom that we’ve had in this country,” Pfaffenroth said. “And it’s a good way of making people, particularly the younger generation, realize the history of our nation.”
Pfaffenroth said the museum is uniquely positioned to lead the event because it is a historic institution located in the center of downtown Main Street.
“I think it’s important for our children to know the history of our country, where they came from, why we have these freedoms, why maybe other places don’t and we do,” Pfaffenroth said. “And I think that’s important to bring them up with an understanding of this. Maybe understand what their parents or grandparents and other people did to make this country free for them.”
Pfaffenroth said participants are encouraged to display the American flag and incorporate themes of freedom into their entries. Pfaffenroth said the museum hopes the event will bring more attention to the historical significance and the “real reason” for the July 4 holiday.
“We hope everybody’s going to turn out, we hope the weather’s going to be good, so thank you very much,” Pfaffenroth said.
The event is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, July 4, beginning at the Cumberland County High School parking lot. Pfaffenroth said the procession will travel up Stanley Street to Main Street and Braun.
Pfaffenroth said applications are available at the Military Memorial Museum, the Art Circle Library, or on the museum’s website.