The citizens of River Falls in Potomac have been getting together for 30 years to celebrate the Fourth of July with a parade, said Tom Keane, who has been driving the car that heads up the parade for 13 years.
“We usually get between 450 and 550 people every year,” he said.
This was Nancy Patch’s second year as Mrs. Firecracker, the patriotically garbed mistress of ceremony.
“It gives me a chance to vocally thank God for being in this country,” said Patch. “I love the way that this neighborhood, River Falls, comes together and makes such a splash for Independence Day.”
The Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department serves as the traditional backend of the parade.
Chris Williams, who is a member of the “Marching Kazoos,” the kazoo ensemble that follows immediately after the head car, said she loves the tradition and has played her kazoo for the Fourth for four years now.
“It took about 5 minutes for us to prepare,” Williams said. “We take our work very seriously.”
Danny Suffuletta, 14, brought his 10-month-old Golden Retriever Starr along for the dog parade.
“It’s just fun [for the dogs],” Suffuletta said. “They like playing with other dogs and pretty much the whole neighborhood comes … The whole community getting together is so big because it shows how the whole country is coming together. It means a lot to everyone.”
“I think this parade, since Sept. 11, has really increased,” said Brian Finley, 15. “A lot more people have come. It’s not just another holiday anymore.”
Joanne D’Andrea’s 8-year-old, blind Cocker Spaniel Mimi has been coming every year since she’s lived with the D’Andreas, she said.“She loves the parade,” said D’Andrea.
Nancy Garrick, who organizes the parade, said there were probably 20 people involved in planning it this year.
“I organize the whole thing,” she said, “But I have a lot of people helping me out.”
“I think people have become more patriotic,” said Jason Goldberg, a 17-year-old member of the Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department.