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Keeping Patriotism Afloat

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Laden with lawn chairs, tents, umbrellas and coolers filled with cold drinks and snacks, an estimated 5,000 people traveled by car, bicycle, golf cart and on foot to watch the city's annual Fourth of July parade.

Julie Walford traveled from Wesley Chapel with her four children - Anthony, 9, Lauren, 7, Matthew, 6, and Amanda, 3, - who situated themselves in and around a little red wagon along Druid Hills Road.

"We were looking for something to do, and we decided on this," said Walford, a former Temple Terrace resident. "It's just a beautiful area, and it's a community with a lot of spirit."
Temple Terrace resident Cindy Perez has made the parade a family priority for about 15 years. Accompanying her this year were grandchildren Heather Angles, 6, Faith Angles, 3, and Chere Erickson, 6, and her 80-year-old mother, Margaret Sullenberger.

"It's so much fun for the whole community and especially for us with our grand- and great-grandchildren here with us," Perez said.

Thirteen-year Temple Terrace residents Rick and Janet Green perched themselves beneath a towering oak tree while their daughter and son-in-law, Kristen and Scott Bloodworth, kept up with their 20-month-old daughter, Madelyn.

"This is the best parade in the area, and it's great because you see people you don't often see," said Rick Green, who lived in Temple Terrace as a child and returned in his adult years because of his fondness for its family-oriented culture and events such as the parade.

Cheri Donohue, executive director of the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, was thrilled to note that the parade had 120 entrants, including Police Chief Tony Velong, who led the parade in his assigned car, and Fire Chief Keith Chapman, who drove the 2-mile stretch in his city vehicle.

Area churches, King High School and Tampa Bay Tech marching bands, community organizations, businesses and city council officials were represented, as were several political candidates. Ye Notorious Krewe of Roaring Lions, a Lions Club group from Tampa, also participated.

"Most of the entrants didn't just show up with a truck but really took the time to create some very interesting exhibits and colorful floats," Donohue said. "I'm always impressed with the ingenuity of all the participants, especially the high schools."

Masque Community Theatre took first place as the parade's best float. First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace's vacation Bible school and Alpaugh Plumbing were named second- and third-place winners, respectively, by a team of anonymous judges selected by the chamber.

The quality and expediency of city employees who assisted with the event's set-up, traffic issues and cleanup also impressed Donohue.

"As soon as the parade cleared out, they were out cleaning up the streets along the route," she said. "It's a real blessing, too, that the city kept the parade and the fireworks in the budget."

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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