People searching for patriotic activities Saturday did not have far to look as Surry County took on the Fourth of July with exuberance.

From parades to performances, there was something for everyone. Businesses on Main Street in Mount Airy even stepped up for the occasion, many of them deciding to open even though it was a holiday.

Patrons braved the heat by finding a shady place to set up a lawn chair at the events they planned to attend and prepared for the day by packing a cooler full of water. Some of the events even provided refreshments for those who showed up.

Many of them decked out in red, white, and blue, some more flamboyantly than others, people sang along to familiar tunes, clapped to those they were unsure of and enjoyed a day full of entertainment.

Reading of the

Declaration of

Independence

The morning started off with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Benjamin Franklin portrayer Dale Cline at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.

Around 100 people gathered in the courtyard for the reading and the singing of patriotic songs including “The Star Spangled Banner,” “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.” They each received a small American Flag to wave, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a glass of cold lemonade.

“We have tens of thousands of service men and women serving around the world. Let them hear us as we sing ‘God Bless America,’” said Brack Llewellyn, who was dressed in period clothing for the event.

There were even a few other people dressed in period clothing in addition to Ben Franklin.

Before reading the Declaration in its entirety, Cline, as Ben Franklin, told a little bit of the history behind the signing of the document from those chosen to write it to the gathering where it was signed.

Roger and Glenda King traveled from Maryland to spend the Fourth of July in Mount Airy because Roger used to live here. They decided to stop by the museum to hear the reading.

“It was very nice. He did a very good job,” said Roger.

Doris Surratt has attended this event before and was happy to see more people attend this time.

“I’m a museum member and I’m a history major. I’ve always had a love of history,” she said of why she attended the reading.

At the conclusion of the singing, many people stepped out onto the sidewalk of Main Street to get ready for the parade.

Mount Airy Parade

Mount Airy once again had a Fourth of July parade down Main Street Saturday morning after skipping last year.

Almost 30 groups and individuals entered the parade. Some designed floats while others walked or rode in vehicles from Veteran’s Memorial Park to the municipal building.

As the start of the parade came into view all the way down the street, people all along the sidewalk stood to clap. Many of the parade entrants threw candy at the crowd, causing the many children along the route to scurry for the nearest pieces.

Members of the Marine Corps League had the place of honor behind the police car escort as they kicked off the parade carrying an American Flag and a Marine Corps flag. The rest of the group consisted of a wide variety of people from church groups to businesses and even Sarah Stevens who rode in the back of a convertible. Betsy Ross even made an appearance, carrying an American Flag which is the source of her fame.

Animal Welfare of Surry and Surry Animal Rescue added another dimension to the parade with their pets. Animal Welfare of Surry representatives rode on the bed of a tractor trailer with their pets while Surry Animal Rescue members walked their dogs down the street. The dogs were all adorned with red. white and blue paraphernalia.

Paddi Butera-Billings attended the parade with some of her family members.

“It’s the Fourth of July. It’s tradition,” she said of why they decided to attend the parade. Her son Michael, who was with her, is a veteran.

Angie King and her daughters Hannah and Angel traveled from Anderson, S.C., to join Sally Holt from Winston-Salem in heading to the parade. The group came to Mount Airy not only for the parade but also to have the Mayberry experience.

“The girls love Andy Griffith,” said Holt of Hannah and Angel. “They wanted to come back here the eat at Snappy Lunch and do all things Mayberry.”

Melinda Webster came from King to see the Mount Airy parade for the first time.

Ridgecrest Assisted

Living Center Parade

The parade down Main Street was not the only one in the city on Saturday.

Ridgecrest Assisted Living Center also had a parade for its residents. Children were invited to decorate their bicycles, scooters and wagons for the holiday and march in the parade around the parking lot of the facility.

The residents lined up under the breezeway at the front of the building in chairs to watch the parade make its circuit. Many of the residents were decked out in red, white and blue apparel and some even had small flags to wave. They were all smiles as they watched the children prepare for the main attraction.

Brandon Cochran and Jamie Dowell, on saxophone and trumpet respectively, provided the music and helped to kick-off the event.

“I play piano here once a month for the residents. They asked if I could get a band together,” said Cochran. Dowell goes to his church and was available for the event.

The pair had to write their own parts for the music they played by transposing it to the right key. They played during the parade and even played a couple of extra songs for the residents once it was over.

After the parade, there was punch for everyone and the children got goodie bags for participating.

208th Army Band

After hitting up the parade and grabbing a bite to eat, many people chose to venture over to the Blackmon Amphitheater to hear the 208th Army Band perform at 1 p.m.

The group played a combination of patriotic and popular tunes. They even played a Michael Jackson medley in memory of the King of Pop.

The group is an Army Reserve band out of Concord, meaning they only get together about once a month. They usually play for soldiers in the 81st Regional Support Command in Fort Jackson, S.C., but this is their third trip to Mount Airy.

“It feels like home,” said one of the band members. “When you feed us, we like to come back.”

People spread out across the lawn in front of the stage with some opting to sit on the stone benches while may others brought blankets or chairs and set up in the shade along the back edge of the venue.

“It’s just special,” said Mary Griffith of the performance. “I come every year, and it’s different every year. I enjoy all the different kinds of music.”

Fred and Kathy Metcger also attended the event to hear the music and celebrate the Fourth.

“It’s not the Fourth of July without marching music,” said Fred, a veteran.

“We like big band music,” said Kathy. “A lot of people don’t realize it but there’s a lot of talent in these bands. I love to hear them play.”

The adults were not the only ones enjoying the music. Several children in attendance marched along to the beat and a few were even brave enough to head out on the dance floor.

Those taking time to enjoy the festivities in Mount Airy come from all over as demonstrated by one family who traveled from Louisiana. The family was on a cruise down the Rhine River in Europe when they met a couple from Mount Airy. The couple suggested they visit the area for the Fourth of July because there was a lot of do.

While they are here, they plan to pick fruit, go horseback riding, visit a state park and have the Mayberry experience.

“It’s very nice. The people here are nice,” said Jamie Fonseca.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.