America, you're beautiful

Nathan McCully, joined by family and friends, catches candy tossed during the American Heroes Fourth of July Parade in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday.
BILL BULEY/Press

Sons of Norway members Mark Farsdahl and Jerry Hanson enjoy being in the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene. Sons of norweay

Carolyn Strauch came as the Statue of Liberty for the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Robbie Walden points as he carries a cross with Jonathon Owens in the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

The Daughters of the American Revolution parade entry rolls on Sherman Avenue on Thursday.

The Blazen Divaz perform during the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Sam Hunter laughs as he joins the Perfection Nots in the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Scarlett Hunt performs with the Lake City Playhouse entry in the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Leigha Seierup wears a patriotic cape during the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Rod Fuller offers a thumbs up as he stands on the sidelines for a minute during the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Samantha Taub with the Coeur d'Alene Ladies Thunder hockey team high fives spectators at the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

The North Idaho Sparklers wear their shirts with pride in the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Veterans, from left, Mark Taylor, Bob Smee and Joe Kaczmar wave during Thursday's parade on Sherman Avenue.

Piper Luginbill, Miss Deer Park, smiles as she shows off her moves in the Fourth of July parade.

The Freeman family, Brenton Lee Freeman Jr., son Brenton Lee Freeman III, Marci Freeman and daughter Makenna Freeman of Hayden enjoy the American Heroes Parade.

Presley Parisot holds Bella on the Companions Animal Center Fourth of July parade entry.

Bridget Lee plays pickleball as she makes her way on the parade route.

Pastor Tim Remington holds a Bible during the Fourth of July parade.

Megan Wallace smiles and holds a sign with the Union Gospel Mission parade contingent.

Riley Krebs rides her bike in style with the BMX parade entry.

Heidi Frazier performs a hip-hop routine with colleagues during the American Heroes parade on Thursday.

Christian Fulton with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe walks on Sherman Avenue during the parade.

Veteran Charles Riffle waves a flag during Thursday's Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

Young Marines carry a giant flag during the parade.

A poster sends out a message during the parade.

People watch the Fourth of July parade.

The Perfection Nots play their way through the Fourth of July parade.

Spectators watch the parade from above.

Cub Scout Pack 215 members carry a banner in the parade.

Johnny Hodson carries a cross during the Fourth of July parade.

Katie Preston with the Daughters of the American Revolution carries a flag in the parade.

The parade is reflected in a tuba on Thursday.

Kids watch the Fourth of July parade in Coeur d'Alene.

by BILL BULEY
Staff Writer | July 5, 2024 1:09 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — “Made in America.”

“God Bless America.”

“Happy Birthday, America.”

You get the idea.

Those short, pointed phrases were on shirts, posters and signs during the American Heroes Fourth of July parade in downtown Coeur d’Alene on Thursday.

Red, white and blue was everywhere, on hats, shorts, socks, shoes, scarves and glasses.

And Old Glory fluttered and waved proudly on nearly every one of the roughly 75 entries on a beautiful, sun-splashed morning that saw a mile-long stretch of Sherman Avenue packed with spectators, young and old.

“We're so excited to celebrate our freedoms,” said Nathan McCully of Dalton Gardens, who attended the parade with family and friends. “This is a great country. Think of all these things we get to enjoy that other people in the world don’t.”

Leigha Seierup wore a cape of stars and stripes as she walked in the parade. She has long called Coeur d’Alene home and participated in past Fourth parades. She loves them.

“Everybody comes out, and that’s when we can actually become one for a day,” she said.

Pickleball players, hockey players, football players, cheerleaders and BMX riders joined the fun, as did horses and dogs in the traditional event organized by the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber.

Big cheers arose for the many veterans in the parade, the Perfection Nots, a community band, dancing groups like Blazen Divaz and North Idaho Sparklers, an entry from the Lake City Playhouse that saw youth showing their acting chops, and the self-powered float from Deer Park with a “Race to the Finish” theme.

“It’s our first sunny parade, so we’re very thankful for that,” said Piper Luginbill, Miss Deer Park.

Phillip Fulton and son Christian Fulton wore their ceremonial regalia as they represented the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

“We want to share our culture with people and give them a sense of who we are, not what they see in movies,” Phillip Fulton said.

He said his ancestors went through many struggles so their people could be where they are today.

“They fought so hard for our culture,” Phillip Fulton said.

Christian Fulton was honored to join his father.

“It’s something special to be with my dad and spend time with him,” he said.

Matt and Ashley Howard with Idaho Central Credit Union, the parade’s presenting sponsor, pushed their twins, Zeke and Elly Howard, in their stroller.

“I like being in the parade, not on the sidelines,” Ashley Howard said.

The Sons of Norway entered a float on the Fourth of July, which is significant, said member Suzanne Knutson, because on that date 199 years ago began the Norwegian immigration to North America.

“Immigrants started coming over in droves from Norway,” she said, adding they were welcomed.

“We are part of the tapestry of the American quilt that makes America so beautiful,” Knutson said.

Megan Wallace beamed with joy and pride as she held up a sign that read, “Free from addiction” as she walked in the Union Gospel Mission parade contingent.

“I’m just so blessed to be a part of this. I was able to have my life changed through it,” Wallace said. “Now we get to walk in support of changing lives. It's just a beautiful thing.”

Following a bit of controversy over whether religious symbols would be allowed in the parade, a large contingent of church members and a traditional family values organization carried crosses, big and small.

“I give all the glory to God,” said Johnny Hodson. “I feel his presence. I’ve felt it all day. I feel it now. He loves us so much and that’s why we’re here, to spread his love and share his message.”

Tom and Marilyn Olsen of Post Falls, dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue, said they loved the two-hour parade as they began to head for home.

“Wonderful,” Marilyn said.

Tom noted in previous years they'd been cold and wet, but this year, they soaked up the energy of the crowd and the warmth of the sun.

“This was much better,” he said.