Zelie Independence Day parade grows every year
ZELIENOPLE — There was a cool breeze blowing Friday morning as spectators gathered to watch the annual July Fourth parade.
It started with the veterans of the American Legion and the Star Spangled Banner sung by Chelsea Hart Dawson.
“This is the reason we have this holiday, to honor those that have sacrificed for us and to celebrate them,” Master of Ceremonies Mike Hall said.
The parade, which lasted nearly an hour and a half, is open to anyone who wants to participate, including fire departments, police, ambulances, classic cars, tractors, bikes, floats and various community organizations.
After lining up on High Street, the paraders traveled down Main Street and turned left onto East Beaver Street. Hall announced each vehicle or marching group as they passed by the intersection with New Castle Street.
For more than 20 years, the parade has been organized by the Zelienople Rotary Club.
“Everybody chips in and does a part,” said Rotarian Carroll Cooper of the effort.
Near the front of the parade were Grand Marshal Archie Simpson and Chuck Underwood, the recipient of the Doc Viola Service Above Self Award.
Both men were recently honored by the rotary club for their long-standing service to the community.
Rotary also recruits a panel of non-Rotarians to judge the parade entries and hand out awards such as best float, best car and best tractor, Cooper said.
One fan favorite was the Resurrection Band and Betty Lambert, who twirled flaming batons and did a split.
“I liked seeing the troops in the beginning and seeing Betty,” said Tom Haus of Jackson Township. “I've been here 20 years, and she's been doing this longer than that.”
Zelienople native and former Naval officer Denis Confer said he now lives in Virginia but enjoyed getting a chance to see the parade while visiting the area.
“Down where I'm at, it's not as big. For the Fourth of July, they don't have a parade like this,” Confer said.Several people agreed that Zelienople's Independence Day parade tradition was something to be proud of.“It seems like it gets bigger every year,” said Roy Vandevort of New Sewickley. “Not too many towns have parades like this.”Zelienople's Fourth of July celebration also included a Duck Derby Dash held at the pool, a performance by the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra in the park and fireworks.
