After threat of cancelation, a good crowd of spectators lined West Broadway for the 13th Annual Greater Centralia Area Veterans 4th of July Parade.
The parade was led by Grand Marshall, the Honorable E4 Gerald Wehrheim, U.S. Army.
“I love the parade. A great day. All the people of Centralia, all the cars and all the kids. Oh ya they hollered at me, I know a lot of people.”
Wehrheim was presented a plaque and cap honoring his 60 year membership in the Centralia American Legion at the trophy presentation in Fairview Park after the parade.
Parade organizer Butch Mathus was pleased.
“We do this parade to honor our Veterans with a homecoming celebration every year. It was a wonderful turnout this year and amount of entries. We had close to 40 entries so tip of the hat to everyone for being here.”
First place in the Patriotic category was presented to Kaskaskia College with a new display honoring the Jim Beasley Veterans Memorial. Second place went to the Daughters of American Revolution. Top prize in the Civic Division went to the Centralia Elk’s with the display of the large U.S. Flag down the parade route. The Centralia VFW took second. Chuck Lawson, with a decorated side-by-side took first in the Family division. Karen Biermann riding in an antique convertible took second.
A large number of vehicles came out after the rain for the car show in Fairview Park and the American Legion Homecoming came to a successful end with a busy final day of the carnival leading up to the fireworks display.
