On Friday, July 4, 2008, the seventh annual “Greencastle-Antrim July 4th Celebration” will be held at Tayamentasachta Environmental Center in the pavilion and walnut grove areas from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At 11 a.m., the invocation will be given followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of The National Anthem. A flag-folding ceremony, conducted by members of Cub Scout Troop 95, will be part of the opening ceremonies.
About 11:15 a.m., Russ Clever, as “grand marshal,” will lead the sixth annual Children’s Parade. The children will parade to patriotic marches in front of the staging area. All children are invited to participate by wearing their July 4th colors or “costumes.”
After the Children’s Parade, the Most Patriotic Family contest will be held. Families are invited to get into the July 4th spirit, use their imaginations, and be as creative as possible in order to win. Cash awards will be presented to the winning families. Registration for the Most Patriotic Family contest will be located at the pavilion. No pre-registration is required for the children’s parade.
Immediately following the Most Patriotic Family contest, the third annual July 4th children’s photograph will be taken. A high-resolution copy of the photograph will be available to download by parents upon entering the GA July 4th Celebration web page which can be accessed at www.greencastlemuseum.org. Each child will receive a bottle of bubble soap and one child will receive a special July 4th memento.
After the photograph is taken, pre-school and kindergarten-age children will be entertained for 15 minutes by music teacher, Shonelle Strausbaugh. After the pre-school entertainment, children in grades 1 to 5 will enjoy their 15-minute Musik for Kids program. About 1:15, all the children will enjoy a peanut and candy scramble, sponsored by the American Legion.
C. Greg Hoover will serve as the master of ceremonies. Live vocal and band music with a patriotic theme will be provided for everyone’s enjoyment. Many of the performers from the past six years will be returning for this year’s event including Barry, Mandy, and Diana Stottlemyer, Dave Reeder, the band “A Wing and a Prayer,” and the Greencastle-Antrim Alumni Band.
Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A. – I’m Proud to be an American” has been chosen by the organizing committee as the event’s theme song. Barry Stottlemyer and Dave Reeder will sing the song near the opening of the program and will reprise it as the finale, when everyone will be invited to join in singing it.
Hand-held flags will be provided by the VFW Auxiliary and after the finale, a watermelon party will be provided by Greencastle’s VFW for everyone to enjoy.
Several Greencastle-Antrim families have begun a new tradition for themselves by having a family reunion during the July 4th Celebration. All community members are invited to join the festivities by bringing lawn chairs or a blanket and having a picnic lunch that they’ve prepared. On a first-come-first-served basis, picnic tables will be available. For those who do not wish to prepare lunch ahead of time, Shady Grove Boy Scout Troop 95 will have hamburgers, hot dogs, water, and soft drinks for sale.
The organizing committee encourages the residents, merchants, and businesses in the Greencastle-Antrim area to decorate their homes and places of business in red, white, and blue and to fly the flag, as our nation celebrates its 232nd anniversary of Independence Day.
The event will be held rain or shine. School district property is a non-alcoholic facility. Donations will be accepted to cover overhead expenses.
For more information, please call 597-9325.
July 4th in Greencastle-Antrim is a time for children to get involved. They can join in a children's parade, sing happy birthday to America, have their picture taken in a group children's photograph, gather goodies from a peanut and candy scramble, and for the first time this year - have fun in a Musik for Kids program. The third annual July 4th children’s photograph will be taken immediately following the most patriotic family contest. Parents will be able to download a high resolution copy of the photograph by entering the GA July 4th Celebration Web page at www.greencastlemuseum.org.