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Independence Day Blast
Tribune photo by JIM REED
Spectators gathered at Channelside for the annual fireworks show.
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Published: July 5, 2008
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BRANDON - BRANDON - Shade makes for such hot real estate at the sweltering Brandon Fourth of July parade that no one wants to give up their secrets.
Doreen Reysen, her daughter and two other families from Valrico meet annually before sunrise to claim a spot under a thick oak tree.
"We are right under this tree every single year," said 12-year-old Melanie McBride.
But don't ask what time they come or detail where the tree is along the parade route that stretches more than a mile.
Reysen said if the competition finds out, her group will have to get up even earlier to stake its spot.
About 100,000 people attend the parade, which marked its 50th anniversary this year with Boy Scouts, back flips and blasts from water guns. It was part of celebrations across the area capped off with fireworks over Channelside and other communities.
Thousands headed to events during the day and evening. In Lutz, Georgette and Chris Kelly of Land O' Lakes marveled at how much their community's annual Independence Day celebration had grown. They have watched the parade from the same place for about 15 years. This year, its 90 entries featured Scout troops, politicians, belly dancers and square dancers.
"I remember when you'd blink and the parade would be over," Chris Kelly said.
Brandon paradegoers arrived early, equipped with water, snacks, and umbrellas or tents to block the sun. The Lewis family set up along Robertson Street about 9 a.m., an hour before the parade began, and 4-year-old Christopher had fallen asleep in his father's lap within 20 minutes.
"He's already hungry, already tired," Robert Lewis said, smiling.
Families decked themselves in variations of red, white and blue. Tyler Moore, 4, and his brother, 8-year-old Caleb, wore matching sparkly Uncle Sam hats and temporary tattoos of fireworks and eagles. The boys looked forward to the treats at the parade - shaved ice and chocolate and, of course, beads - but their father appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere.
"You get a true taste of what the community is about," Josh Moore said. "Kids love it. It's good, safe fun."
The parade had 101 entries. Children screamed for Spider-Man as he walked the route and passed out comic books. The Bloomingdale and Brandon summer marching band performed, swapping traditional uniforms for shorts and T-shirts. Churches filled floats, the Shriners entertained the crowd and the Suntwisters gymnasts flipped and did handstands along the route.
The Gillespie family rigged up a target for catching beads and candy. They cut a hole in their tent for parade participants to toss goodies, which would fall into a wagon below. Ryan, 7, and Megan, 5, waited in their lawn chairs to see what happened.
"We come to the parade every year," said mother Nicole Gillespie. "We just thought it would be something fun to do."
Onlookers and float-riders took turns dousing each other with high-powered water guns.
"Shoot me, shoot me," begged Mical Maldonado and Taylor Galarza, students at Mann Middle School, as the Disaster Relief Team's float cruised by, spraying the crowd.
Robert Fitch, meanwhile, let the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts he brought fill their soaker guns with ice water. He educated them first on the finer points of spraying parade participants: "No uniforms. No cameras. And only if they ask for it."
Surrounded by the spectacle, one man took the meaning behind it to heart.
U.S. Army Col. Terry Morgan, who watched the parade with his wife and children, said the outpouring of patriotism touched him. It is a difficult time for the country, he said, and too often he sees people treat the flag casually or refuse to take off their hat during "The Star-Spangled Banner."
On Friday, he watched paradegoers stand and applaud as people marched by with the flag.
"It puts water in my eyes," Morgan said.
Reporter B.C. Manion contributed to this report. Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at cpastor@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1503.
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