The Plymouth community celebrated Independence Day with its annual Good Morning USA parade.
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The guest list for Paul DeJohn’s birthday party was pretty large.
DeJohn, a Vietnam veteran from Plymouth, shares a birthday with his country, having been born July 4,1942. He was joined by thousands of his closest friends Tuesday at Plymouth’s annual Good Morning USA parade.
DeJohn, who was active U. S. Navy from 1960-1963 and served aboard the USS Constitution, was happy to see such a huge turnout for the parade.
“I love seeing the patriotism, ” DeJohn said. It’s not really apparent in the world today.”
The parade, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Colonial Plymouth, once again featured dozens of acts, floats and personalities, from banks and businesses to entertainers and school groups.
It’s biggest feature: thousands of people lining Main Street to watch their favorites go by.
Julia Ruggirello and Haley Phillips of Clarkston kicked the day off with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Though the pair has performed the anthem together many times, Tuesday’s parade audience was the largest crowd they’d seen.
“We’ve had a lot of practice, ” said Ruggirello, admitting to a small case of nerves. “This is a lot of people.”
Phillips actually welcomed the throng.
“The more people the better, I think, ” she said. “It’s less nervous for me.”
Julie Sexton of Garden City was lined up with her family along Main Street, along with her dad, Mike Quandrahl, who moved to Plymouth from Howell 10 months ago.
The family doesn’t always come for the parade, but they were in the crowd this year and enjoying it.
“We love it every time we come, ” Sexton said. “All of Plymouth shows up. The parade is done really well, and it’s a good family atmosphere.”
Scott and Kellie Carty of Plymouth were also among the crowd for the parade with their four kids and also with four nieces and nephews. The parade is “a good way to celebrate the nation’s birthday, ” Kellie Carty said, but her husband thinks it also is a good conversation starter and a teaching moment for the children.
“It’s a good way to start discussions about the (meaning of) Fourth of July, ” Scott Carty said. “It’s a good way to see the community.”
