4th of July 2011

AROUND DELTAVILLE

T. D. Harris

The American flag and flags of each branch of the military flew proudly over Deltaville as we celebrated the Fourth of July. We can thank Larry Dean for his dedication to our country and community. He has humbly and proudly taken over the honor of raising and lowering the flags.

The day started with the K5 race with over 300 entries. The race was the brainchild of Bruce Miller. All proceeds went to the DCA.

T.G. McMurtrie reported over $22,000 were taken in from the sales of the tee shirts he made. The proceeds to go toward the play ground and the beautifying of the outside of the DCA. 

Vendors set up their wares in the sun, people walked around and bought items they had no idea they wanted or needed. Barbeque, cole slaw and beans were being sold by wives and husbands smiling and exchanging happy chatter. There were cold drinks and snow cones for the children and the ice cream truck was busy beside the new pool bath house. The Pet parade and children parade were attended by crowds of children and parents and proud grandparents. There was an African tortoise with antennae taped on its head. He walked around as if he knew he was special following the dogs with a nod of his head to the crowds and his house mate, a lizard called the Bearded Dragon followed in a basket standing on the side looking all around. The Crab Lump band added to the festivities with music. Bob Walker set up what looked like a new track for the crab races and the cheering for the crabs was delightful to hear. It is hard to tell who was having the most fun, those who worked to make the fun or those who attended. Again we can all thank Chris Scherrer who for many years has been pulling Heritage Day together.

John Koedel drove home from vacationing in North Carolina to join Billy Norton as Grand Marshalls in the parade. They both had big smiles on their faces and surely a feeling of satisfaction for the great job they have done getting the DCA pool opened and the buildings under repair. As the day dwindled away, crowds continued to come to Deltaville for the ballgame between the local fire departments and the traditional ending of every Fourth of July, fireworks.

Sheriff Guy Abbott and all of his deputies made fireworks possible for Deltaville. They were gracious as well as being protective. The ballpark was packed as well as outside in the cemetery. Partying crowds in the street as well as boats on Jackson Creek and Sturgeon Creek. Surely it was the largest crowd ever in Deltaville. There was a feeling of joy and survival. We as a community celebrated those who sacrificed for our freedom as well as rising up out of the debris of the recent tornado that left a path of destruction across Deltaville. It only took a week for our neighbors and friends to contribute for fireworks. Lavina Haas is where the credit for motivation to make it happen. After a weekend of seeing friends and celebrating it is back to cleaning up. But gee, wasn’t it nice to stop and celebrate?

Birthdays were celebrated by Everette Topping, Leslie Krom, Pat Creed, Carmen Ward and Tanner Clark last week and this week Chris Blommel, Kirby Hutchinson, Joseph Valencia, Sarah Clark Lindsay Harrow, Brandon Walden and Thomas Farrell and Vaughan Crittenden are celebrating birthday. Marie and Shorty Walton and Roxanne and Jerry May celebrated their anniversaries earlier this week.

“What light is to the eyes-what air is to the lungs-what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.”

Fair winds