A+ A A-

SLIDESHOW: 25 entries in word-of-mouth parade in Friday Harbor (MORE PHOTOS ADDED)

 With the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood filling the air, 25 decorated vehicles left the Port of Friday Harbor parking lot and headed up Spring Street on July 4, 2020. The unofficial 4th of July parade was organized by word-of-mouth. Participants saying "They can't take away our Independence Day Celebration." The parade provided a safe and sane way to celebrate the U.S.A.  according to the participants. 

The participants get ready in the Port of Friday Harbor parking lot. Minnie Knych photo

The lead truck. Minnie Knych photo

Craig and Tom Starr in their vintage car. Matt Pranger photo

 

Lots of flags on this bright red convertible. Matt Pranger photo

Bright white jeep stood out on the cloudy morning. Matt Pranger photo

Last modified onSaturday, 04 July 2020 21:25

9 comments

  • Diana Chapin-Tsai Sunday, 31 January 2021 12:56 Comment Link Report

    Very disappointing to see the Trump supporters! The fact that their photo is shown first makes me question the citizens of San Juan Island. Am I wrong to assume the populace to be more educated and tolerant than they are? Are these Trump supporters really representative of the local politics?! What a shame to think that even your lovely island has been tainted by their ilk.

  • Toni Zeigler Wednesday, 08 July 2020 00:30 Comment Link Report

    GOD BLESS AMERICA!
    LAND OF THE FREE & HOME OF THE BRAVE!??????
    So Great to See PATRIOTS!
    Wish I could have Been There

  • Christopher M Wilson Monday, 06 July 2020 16:34 Comment Link Report

    I miss the parade, as my wife says "It's adorable". This "flash" parade seems like a nice idea. Too bad the MAGA hat wearing couple made it less inclusive and more of a right wing protest event. The day before trump made a very divisive speech , as he did again on the Fourth. Other Presidents use this time to stress our unity but not trump, all he can do is divide and appeal to his base. Someone is quoted as say "They can't take away our Independence Day Celebration" Who is "they"? Judging by the hats I think they mean "radical leftists" or even the dreaded antifa. The pandemic is real. It is not a hoax. It is coming back stronger than ever. A year without crowds is the least we can do. It was a reasonable idea to not do teh parade this year. I am sorry the Islander gave the divisive MAGA hat people the lead picture, they ruined what was a nice idea by their partisanship approach.

  • Christopher Wilson Monday, 06 July 2020 08:55 Comment Link Report

    "They" (can't take away our 4th) who is that? antifa? the so called radical leftists? We have an extreme situation in the country, the pandemic. It is real and not having crowds is a reasonable response. The 4th still exists, it is not a parade. There is nothing patriotic in pretending there is not a problem going on. I liked the idea in general but the maga hats were unnecessary if the goal as to just have a little , inclusive, parade and not just to make a right wing statement. Trump used to occasion to make two very divisive couple of speeches, a very unusual move by a President at this time, usually a time for unifying speeches. We don't need to see that echoed here.

  • Dave Monday, 06 July 2020 06:01 Comment Link Report

    Nice to see folks out smiling and spreading cheer in the community.

    Now if we could just figure out a way to hold a word of mouth fair :)

  • Virgil Sunday, 05 July 2020 22:22 Comment Link Report

    Is this our island? Cars polluting the Salish Sea is a celebration?

  • Susan Sunday, 05 July 2020 22:10 Comment Link Report

    Shocking to hear that participants were saying "They can't take away our Independence Day Celebration". Who is "They"? Perhaps "They" are all the rest of us, who are doing our part to keep our community and country safe and healthy? If you truly do "support first responders" as one sign read, then there should be no problem with anything we need to do support them, including masking up, and even forgoing parades and fireworks (and why not donate the funds from those forgone activities to health care workers?) Hard to see how this was a celebration of our country, our true respect and care for one another, and the common good of all.

  • Georgia Sunday, 05 July 2020 09:47 Comment Link Report

    How come no one I could see in pictures were wearing masks? Guess that's what they call Independence. I call it reckless!

  • Marlene Sunday, 05 July 2020 06:58 Comment Link Report

    Just looked like a bunch of Trumpys. So glad we didn’t waste our vacation going to this!

Leave a comment

Comments are welcome as long as they are civil, do not include personal attacks, and pertain to the subject. In order to avoid being overrun by spam, comments are reviewed before they are posted.