Local veterans from Veterans of Foriegn Wars Post No. 7034 lead the parade down Main Street in Sparta. Large crowd attends parade

Fourth of July holiday celebrated in county

Beautiful blue skies, pleasant temperatures and a distinctly patriotic theme greeted a sizable crowd for the Fourth of July Parade last Saturday morning in downtown Sparta.

Other July 4 activities included a fireworks show on the night of the holiday. The fireworks included several larger shells (larger and more unusual displays).

As for the parade, the spectators were treated to a wide array of entries, including color guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7034, racing lawnmowers, homemade floats, antique cars, animals, walkers in patriotic costumes, animals, marching youth groups, clowns and members of the National Guard, including a fly-over by a National Guard helicopter.

"It wasn't as long as I would have liked, but there was a good variety of entries," commented Sandy Rost, president of the Sparta Revitalization Committee, which organized the parade. "I just thought it was awesome, it was tremendous....It seemed as if everybody was so patriotic and that's what it's all about.

"I was proud to be an Alleghany-countian."

Wanda Wills and Walter Bell, two former classmates in high school here, served as the grand marshals for the parade.

"It was really nice that we had two grand marshals," Rost said. "I really appreciate everybody's involvement and I'm just proud to live here."

Upper left: this impressive display was part of the July 4 fireworks.

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