Don and Cindy Gardner chosen as grand marshals of Bayview Daze Parade

Don and Cindy Gardner tend to quietly go about their business in Bayview, but they won’t be able to July 6. 

That’s when the retired couple will be the grand marshals of the Bayview Daze Fourth of July parade. 

"Totally humbled, first thing that comes to mind,” Don Gardner said Wednesday of being selected for the honor. “I’m one of those who tries to do things in the background.” 

The Gardners do quite a bit in the background. 

Between them, they’ve served with the chamber, the water and sewer board, the Bayview Community Center and in other areas. 

“Anything I can do for the community in the future is my heart’s desire,” Don Gardner said. 

Norma Jean Knowles, president of the Bayview Chamber of Commerce, said the Gardners have volunteered extensively. 

"They’re very humble, a really wonderful couple,” she said.  

The Bayview Daze Parade is generally held the Saturday before July Fourth, unless that puts it into June. Then, it goes to the following Saturday. 

It is scheduled for its usual time, 11 a.m., and follows Main Street. Thousands come out for the parade, billed as an old-fashioned celebration, as red, white and blue decorates the lakeside town. Last year, it featured a record of more than 50 entries and may top that this year, Knowles said. 

The fireworks display is scheduled to begin about 10 p.m. July 6.  A record of more than $22,000 was raised last year to fund this year’s display over Lake Pend Oreille. 

New this year is the “Children’s Fun Place” at the Bayview Community Center from noon to 5 p.m. It is sponsored by Bayview Bible Church. 

The traditional pancake breakfast is scheduled 8-10:30 a.m. July Fourth at the Bayview Community Center. Suggested donation is $8. 

Don Gardner said he first came to Bayview to fish in 1972 with Win Hickman, who would become his father-in-law when Don married his daughter. 

“Never dreaming I’d ever live here," said Don Gardner, who was stationed for a time at Fairchild Air Force Base, where he was a survival instructor. He also worked 30 years for Avista. 

He and Cindy Gardner have been married for 51 years. They left Colville, Wash., and settled in Bayview in 2003.   

Don said he's always been of the mind a person needs to be involved in their town.

“We have givers, we have takers,” he said. “There’s a lot of givers in this little community. It’s a unique place.” 

Don Gardner said he and his wife are not looking for “any kind of preeminence of any kind,” but they’re proud to be the grand marshals of the Bayview Daze Parade. 

“I’m honored my peers would think enough of me and my wife to bestow this on us,” he said.