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Big bang theory

by DEVIN HEILMAN/dheilman@cdapress.com
| July 5, 2014 9:00 PM

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<p>Fireworks from Friday’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show light up Lake Coeur d’Alene to celebrate Independence Day.</p>

COEUR d'ALENE - Stephanie McPhail hollered and waved as the parade passed by, sometimes getting out her phone to capture the patriotic spectacle.

"It's awesome," she said with a big smile. "This is the best parade I've seen."

McPhail and her husband, Michael, brought their 9-month-old baby girl Alice to her first Fourth of July celebration in downtown Coeur d'Alene. This was also Stephanie and Michael's first Independence Day in the City by the Lake, as they moved to Coeur d'Alene from Tacoma last August.

"We're really happy with having the parade," Michael said. "We're used to the Daffodil Parade over there."

"We're used to the smaller stuff," Stephanie said. "This is actually pretty big for this size town. It's a lot bigger than what we thought it would be."

"I didn't think it would be this much," Michael said. "This is great."

The McPhails and thousands of spectators filled the sidewalks from 19th Street and Sherman Avenue all the way west to view the annual American Heroes Parade in celebration of the 238th birthday of the United States of America.

More than 80 parade entries inched along the parade route as parade-goers clapped from lawn chairs and waved miniature American flags. Fire engine horns blew, music blasted from some of the floats and the rat-a-tat-tat of marching percussion punctuated the joyful din.

Veterans organizations, former prisoners of war and other heroes could be seen in floats and parade vehicles. One such hero is Gene Higdem, 82, of Coeur d'Alene, who rode in the United States Forest Service truck. He is a Korean War Air Force veteran, retired from 26 years with the Forest Service. It was his first time being in the parade.

"It will be a very nice ride, I'm sure," he said prior to the parade. "This is a pretty exciting thing for me. I've not done this before."

He shared an emotional story about how he saved a man's life in the 1960s, describing the trials and stress he endured as he rushed to rescue the firefighter.

"It was in the Kaniksu National Forest, and I came across an Indian firefighter," he said. "He'd been bit by a bee and he was obviously having problems."

He described administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, getting the firefighter into a vehicle and then a helicopter, and how it seemed one thing after another went wrong.

"The first thing I did was stall the rig in a stump hole," he said.

The mission was successful, but has left quite an impression on Higdem, who is considered a hero by many in the community. His "Air Force Dad" ball cap says it all.

Along with North Idaho's heroes, the North Idaho College cheerleaders, the Coeur d'Alene Library, the Daughters of the American Revolution and many, many more participated in the parade, including fan favorites such as the Blazen Divaz and the Perfection-Nots. More than 100 Perfection-Nots performed "She's a Grand Old Flag" as they marched.

Seasoned Perfection-Not Sam Hunter of Coeur d'Alene played a giant sousaphone (marching tuba) and wore an oversized, red, white and blue Uncle Sam top hat with extra large sunglasses. He admitted that the rag-tag group of musicians only practices once before hitting the parade route.

"I got into this on a dare from a music teacher named Doug Wood, who teaches at Canfield (Middle School)," he said. "He dared me because I hadn't played in a band since high school, so that's how I got started. He said, 'If I could get you a sousaphone, would you play?' I said, 'OK, I'll do it."

Hunter said parade-goers love the Perfection-Nots.

"They are very animated and of course, we sousaphone players are in the back row, so we don't do stuff like we're supposed to," he said. "We'll go sit on the side or we'll go through the group that's behind us. That's part of the entertainment."

He said the parade is one of his favorite parts of the Fourth festivities.

"That, and watermelon," he added with a smile.

The parade was a dazzling display of patriotism, exhibiting residents' and out-of-towners' exhilaration to celebrate their country.

The parade also incorporated the deeper meaning of America in several ways. Democrats marched in harmony just ahead of Republicans, a young member representing the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Coeur d'Alene Resort wore authentic, tribal dress as he shook the hands of those lining the sidewalks and several onlookers saluted as a giant American flag was carried past.

Fun and spontaneity were also abundant, as young Cherry Hill BMX bikers popped wheelies, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce Commodores sailed by on its pirate ship and performed theatrics and riders of the Emmett Paul Snyders Foundation sprayed water onto the crowd, causing children to squeal with delight.

Pacific Steel even had a live band playing music atop the bed of a semi-truck next to a steel version of the Iwo Jima Memorial and a large charcoal barbecue grill.

The American Heroes Parade and all of the Fourth of July festivities were provided by the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce.