America celebrates
<p>Fireworks light up the night sky Monday during the Fourth of July show over Lake Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Bridger Thurman, 7, far left, looks on as Alex McCall, 3, and Abbi McCall, 5, wave American flags during the parade in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Scott Shawver, owner of Body by Scotty, waves to parade-goers from his mini bike Monday during the American Hero's Parade in Coeur d'Alene. Thousands lined Sherman Avenue to witness the annual event in celebration of Independence Day.</p>
<p>Alexander Carr, 6, watches the parade from behind an umbrella as his brother Aaron, 12, right, celebrates Independence Day with red, white and blue hair spray.</p>
<p>Mike Sims, a member of the Shriners' Um Al Jamal three-wheelers group, rides a wheelie passed the crowd during the American Hero's Parade.</p>
<p>Trena Burt, a member of the Perfection Nots for 10 years, marches along Sherman Avenue Monday while playing tambourine with the band.</p>
<p>Mickey Metcalf, of Coeur d'Alene, celebrates both Independence Day and his birthday by participating in the American Hero's Parade.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - From a vantage point alongside Sherman Avenue, Pascale Cafferty and her two youngsters watched the American Hero's Parade march, dance and roll through downtown Coeur d'Alene.
They saw fire engines and marching bands, colorful floats and peppy cheerleaders. They took in the sights and sounds - sirens flashing, music blaring, drums rumbling.
"I think it's fun," said Cafferty, who lives in Coeur d'Alene. "It's nice to see that there's a great diversity of American folklore, and everyone is allowed to participate and enjoy themselves."
Her daughter, 11-year-old Victoria, enjoyed watching a pair of A-10 Thunderbolts zoom overhead. Thanks to the Idaho Air National Guard, the loud machines signaled the start of Monday's Fourth of July procession.
"I really liked the airplanes," Victoria said.
Several thousand spectators clogged the sidewalks along Sherman and Northwest Boulevard. Some folks arrived early and set up camp chairs, but for the most part, it was standing-room-only along the route.
The crowd cheered and waved as the parade flowed past.
"Great, like usual. Just the right amount. Wasn't too long," said Dan Mattison of Hayden.
He and his wife, Lezlee, attend the Fourth of July parade almost every year. This time around, they brought the kids and grandkids, too.
"We loved it," Lezlee said. "It's always good. Always enjoy coming."
A string of veterans groups led the procession, their flags waving in the breeze. The VFW, the Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans and others made an appearance.
More signs, flags and floats followed close behind. A troupe of athletes from the Inland Empire Gymnastics Association put on a show, performing back-tucks and handstands on the rough pavement.
"It was way harder than our bouncy floor," said 11-year-old Tessa Depasquale, a gymnast from Coeur d'Alene.
Many local groups and organizations took part in the annual event. Girl and Boy Scouts, politicians (both red and blue), law enforcement officers, area businesses, hockey players, hot rodders, skateboarders - the list goes on.
A few interesting sights:
• Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem on the back of a motorcycle.
• Submarine veterans from Farragut Naval Training Station, looking jaunty.
• North Idaho College President Priscilla Bell's means of transport: a gigantic yellow big rig.
• The Kootenai County Republican Party float, featuring George Washington crossing the Delaware.
• Eight Calam Shriners pedaling one very long bicycle - the legendary "octocycle."
• A gorilla dressed as Uncle Sam riding a miniature motorbike.
"There's a lot of cool stuff in the parade," said 11-year-old Matthew Hoffman, a spectator from Post Falls.
Linda Green and her husband, Kootenai County Commissioner Dan Green, walked the route with their miniature horse, Thunder, and passed out flags. The little horse loves all the attention, Linda said.
"It was fun to be in (the parade)," she added. "It was well organized. Coeur d'Alene's a beautiful city, and beautiful people."