Goshen. ‘Who better to go and support than our veterans, our first responders and our heroes’
| 07 Jul 2021 | 10:34
The following photographs by Sammie Finch from the Hero Appreciation Parade July 3 in Goshen capture just how much Fourth of July celebrations are about families.
Goshen.
With the wrath of the Covid-19 virus finally coming to head, local Goshen residents Jimmy O’Donnell and his family created the a Hero’s Appreciation Parade to fill the need that canceled 2021 Memorial Day Parade/Veterans Appreciation and Annual Great American Weekend left behind.
“We were talking one night about how it was shame that those annual events were cancelled” said O’Donnell.
From there the idea of a small vendor fair planted the seed and the event grew to include a 5k race, the Hero Appreciation Parade, a Kid 5k race, alongside vendors and music on the green of the First Presbyterian Church. All hands were on deck to create the event in three-four weeks.
On July 3rd the parade stepped off and the Goshen Government Center and marched through the heart of Goshen. Despite the clouds, the rain held off as local families gathered alongside the parade route. American Flags waved in the cool air and the crowd cheered loudly as local heroes marched by. The world seemed to stop still and sense as of normalcy washed over.
“It was perfect,” said O’Donnell. “Who better to go and support than our veterans, our first responders and our heroes?”
O’Donnell extends his heartfelt thanks to all those volunteered and attended.
- Sammie Finch