July 7, 2004
Neighborhood tradition marches on despite the rain
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Rain poured that morning, but a dedicated group of residents kept the tradition and paraded around their Holiday Hills neighborhood in the Fourth of July spirit.
Sunday's early precipitation lightened to a mist by 11 a.m., as kids on bikes - with both bipeds and bicycles decorated in red, white and blue - assembled eagerly.
In all, eight children, an assortment of parents and one dog took the tenth annual one-mile hike through the winding, hilly subdivision. Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Deputy Kip Needham led in a patrol car, the parade's traditional fire truck escort having been called to a fire shortly before.
The Weckler family turned out in force for the event, their sixth year of participation that began the year they moved into the neighborhood.
"It is something we look forward to every year and it gets all the kids together," said Craig Weckler, who shepherded children Bennett, 11, Hannah, 10, Sam, seven and Abby, five on the route. "We were coming out today, rain or shine."
The Weckler children took their decorating duties seriously, with each bike and Abby's motorized car radiating patriotism.
"My dad helped with the wheels," said Hannah, adding about the parade: "I kind of like just being together with the whole neighborhood."
Sam, 7, is a meticulous decorator, his father noted, and his bike was a blur of flags, streamers and other thematic elements.
"I like decorating stuff and I like to ride my bike," Sam said.
In 1994, a family that has since moved away started the Holiday Hills neighborhood parade tradition. Other families have since stepped in to keep it going and the event is now an anticipated tradition for both participants and watchers. In recent years, 50-60 people have paraded through the neighborhood with many others watching.
Deb Schmuckal, the parade's organizer this year, noted that participants line up by 10:45 on the morning of the Fourth at the designated intersection. After ten years, everyone knows where to go and when.
"Everyone sure looks forward to it and I just wondered what to do when we saw the rain, but I didn't want to cancel it," she said. "It's neat to see how it's grown over the years."
The Holiday Hills neighborhood parade is an audience participation event as many residents decorate their homes and turn out in force to cheer the passing array. This year, the rain dampened the cheering section, too, but usually the home-based decorations are part of the fun.
"Last year it was crazy, some people had put balloon arches going from one side of the road to the other," Schmuckal said.
Dianne McGee and her husband, Jim, were among the handful of residents who watched and cheered Sunday morning in the mist. The Fourth of July has special meaning for them because they have a son who is a captain in the Air Force.
"I just like to see the patriotism because there's not enough of it," said Dianne McGee, noting that they watch the event every year. "The kids are so excited and they get their pets involved; usually all the neighbors up and down the street sit and watch."