Brundidge celebrates Independence Day

The Independence Day Parade in Brundidge on Saturday was certainly not the biggest Fourth of July celebration in the country, but it was just what a celebration of the country’s independence should be.

“The Independence Day Parade is all about bringing people together to celebrate our heritage and our freedoms and there’s nothing pretentious about it,” said Mayor Jimmy Ramage. “It’s a hometown parade where there are those who are in the parade and those who are cheering them on are friends and neighbors. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The Independence Day Parade is sponsored annually by the Brundidge Business Association and is led by the 98th Army Silver Wings Band from Fort Rucker.

“The Fort Rucker Army Band played for the parade and, following the parade, presented a short concert at the Knox Ryals Pavilion,” said Dorthea Dow, BBA president. “Everybody enjoyed the patriotic music. It was so appropriate and so much appreciated.”

Dow said that the parade had floats and flags, dogs and dignitaries and tractors and trucks.

“The Independence Day Parade honors our veterans and their service and it also features queens from the Wiregrass area who will be competing in the National Peanut Festival Pageant in the fall,” Dow said. “We had a good, fun parade and a good crowd in town and along the parade route. We are always excited to have representatives from so many towns around the Wiregrass participate. It’s a good way to showcase our town and we welcome the opportunity.”

Miss Goshen, Lauren Crosby, said the Independence Day Parade was an opportunity for the queens to spend time together without having to “compete.”

“We’ve all become like family and it’s nice for all of them to come visit in my home county,” she said.

The BBA and the Miss Brundidge queens and their families hosted a reception at Brundidge Station for the visiting queens following the parade.

Ansley Johnson represented her hometown of Skipperville. She said being in parades makes her feel special and she really felt special in Brundidge.

Her mom, Cheree Johnson, said the queens were treated like royalty and expressed appreciation to the BBA and all of those who made the Independence Day Parade a memorable experience for all the queens who participated.

“Having an event like the reception is not a requirement, so we really do appreciate this opportunity for the girls and their families to spend time together and get to know each other better,” Johnson said.