Stanardsville expands annual Fourth of July celebration

  Under cloudless skies, family, friends and neighbors quickly came together to attend America’s annual birthday party in Stanardsville.  The morning parade was just the entrée. Large numbers crowded Courthouse Square afterwards for a sweet-sounding ceremony of remembrance.
“It was great to see the court square area packed with people after the parade for the flag raising ceremony and all the patriotic songs and speeches,“ said Stanardsville Mayor Gary Lowe. “We worked hard at communicating that this was a 4th of July Festival, not just a parade.“
In true patriotic fashion, a number of parade goers adorned themselves from top to bottom in reds, whites and blues. Some could argue that the parade lacked the bells and whistles of a big city affair - no bands, for example. But who seemed to mind? The small-town feel of the day was as warm and comfortable as the scent of apple pie straight out of the oven.
  The scenes were priceless: kids gladly clamored for candy tossed from just about every truck, float, or walker trekking up the street. Folks plopped on the grass or in lawn chairs, clapping for their favorite parade participant and proudly cheering on families and neighbors- like the Eppards and Shiffletts and Baughers, carrying on the Independence Day tradition. 
Parade watchers were given American flags to wave as well as rolled copies of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights to hopefully cherish.
At least 38 entries participated in this year’s parade.  Parade winners were as follows: first place, Blanche Whitlock; second place, Greene County Republicans; third place, Peggy Moyers as Miss Liberty; and honorable mention, American Legion Post 128.
  During ceremonies at the Courthouse Square, an official flag-raising was done by the American Legion Post 128. Miss Greene, Brandy Estes, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The National Anthem was sung by Greene County Singers Choral director Suzanne Risk. Stanardsville United Methodist Church pastor Catherine Guest did the invocation, and Board of Supervisors member Carl Schmitt recited the Declaration of Independence.
  Adults of all ages dug into juicy pieces of watermelon supplied by the Greene County Republicans. Bottles of water donated by Lowe’s were offered to thirsty passersby. Quilts and other crafts were nearby on display. 
And there was plenty of heartfelt music. Schmitt and his wife Priscilla led the crowd in a round of patriotic songs, followed by performers North and Son, the Emmanuel Christian Center Gospel Group, George Kenney and Burt Nye.
By the time the Emmanuel singers went to the stage to perform, much of the crowd had waned. But kids scattered along Court House Square kept dancing freely to the music.
  Apparently folks were in the mood to eat, too.
  Workers for a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, held at Stanardsville United Methodist Church, prepared roughly 200 barbecue plates at $8 apiece, but they got more takers than anticipated and sold out.
Parade chairperson Beth Borntrager, who is stepping down as the event’s coordinator this year, said the “whole festivities were a great success.“
“I was especially pleased with the turnout of the post parade activities, and it was a job well done by everybody.“
Borntrager added: “ Hopefully, people got in touch with their more patriotic side. I hope people remember that we’re still in a war, and we need our patriotism to stand.“
  And as for next year’s Fourth of July festivities?
  Lowe says: “Next year promises to be bigger and better, but we must not lose that small town America feel that we have successfully fostered over the years.“
Stanardsville’s Independence Day festivities are sponsored by the town, with help from *STAR* (Stanardsville Area Revitalization Group).
Event organizers wish to thank the following financial contributors:  Greene County Chamber of Commerce (a sponsor) Luck Stone, Video Gaming Technologies, Greene County Historical Society and *STAR*.  In-kind contributors were as follows: Greene County EDA, Performance Signs, Lowe’s of Ruckersville, and Jim Woodson.