Festooned Fourth honors flags

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette community celebrated the red, white and blue varieties of the American flag in honor of the fourth of July.

On the Ninth Street hill it was a Festooned Fourth.

"It's a piece of the small town excitement. As Lafayette gets bigger, it's nice to know that we're still a small town," said Shannon Cauble, a Lafayette resident.

Jennifer Gray of West Lafayette said the event displays a sense of pride for all to see.

"This is a very international community and what a wonderful thing for us to be able to share with our international friends that wonderful spirit that the American people have for our city and our country," said Gray.

Girls and Boys Scouts were among the groups of children taking part in the annual box parade. Troop 333 Assistant Scout Master Michael Hecht said his boys attended the event because it reinforces the need to learn respect for the flag at a young age.

"Whenever they're in uniform, even if it's a class B, which would be a scout t-shirt, that's still considered a uniform and they're told to salute the flag in any of their uniforms. It just shows and instills that in their hearts so that they can respect the flag and know it's true meaning," said Hecht.

Savanna Gray said her participation in the parade is one she will always remember.

"Walking around and dressing up and waving the flag," said Gray, who attended the event with her mother.

"Today's children have lost a lot of touch with why we are the country that we are. This is a way to get them involved with the Festooned Fourth as well as the box parade in how we became such a great country," said Janna Minjarez, Box Parade Chair.

This was the 20th year for the Festooned Parade and the 19th year for the Box Parade.