The Fourth of July is a time of celebration and also recognition for the country, the region and members of the community.

The Zelienople Rotary Club has named Pat Boylan the Grand Marshal of this year’s Fourth of July parade and awarded Mary Hess the Doc Viola Service Above Self award.

The title of grand marshal is typically given to a Rotarian, said Ron Elliot, Zelienople Rotary president.

“It’s a recognition by the Rotary Club for a year’s service to the community,” he said. “Pat Boylan has done a lot for the community.”

Boylan is a longtime Rotary member and local business owner.

“He also was involved in the process of saving the Kaufman House,” Elliot said. “The borough and Pat teamed up.”

The Kaufman House is currently scheduled for internal and external renovations, and the parking lot behind it is free and open to the public.

The Doc Viola Service Above Self Award is given to a non-Rotarian who has shown exemplary service to the community.

“Doc is deceased, but he was a Rotarian,” Elliot said. “When he died the club made an award for a non-Rotarian.”

This year’s recipient is Mary Hess, a small-business owner and member of the Zelienople Borough Council.

“She’s been a long-term member of the Zelienople Borough Council,” Elliot said.

“I’m very honored,” Hess said.

She was surprised, she said, that the Rotary chose her as she works with many hardworking community members every day.

“I’m totally floored,” she said.

The council has been extra busy this year, as the borough has moved forward on sweeping revitalization projects throughout the more commercial districts in Zelienople.

“Zelienople is going through a revitalization process and that is a lot of work,” Elliot said.

She is now in her ninth year on the borough council.

Hess also owns the Spring Street Cafe which has become something of a weekly meeting place for the Rotary.

“We’ve been serving the Rotary breakfast for five years,” she said.

The parade has been run by the Rotary for decades, and every year the group honors members of the community for their service.

Hess and Boylan were given their awards at this year’s annual Rotary dinner on June 21. The dinner celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Rotary and named Hess and Boylan the award recipients, though Boylan was unable to attend.

Both Hess and Boylan will ride at the front of the parade on Tuesday.