The 14th Annual Centralia Veterans Fourth of July Parade drew 40 entries and a crowd along the parade route Friday afternoon. The parade included five floats, a number of decorated golf carts, emergency vehicles, and three queens.
Chair Butch Mathus is thanking all the participants and those who turned out to watch.
“There was a wonderful turnout. The crowd was great and wonderful. It seems like it is growing every year, especially with the entries. I’m very honored by everybody’s participation in honoring our veterans. I’m looking forward to next year because we have the 250th anniversary of our nation, and I really want to push the envelope with everybody to participate and honor our nation’s birthday.”
The parade winners included the Centralia Masonic Lodge first, and the large US Flag carried by the Centralia Elks second. In the civic division, the Prairie State Chapter of DAR took first, and the Wamac Little Toot Train was second. In the family division, Jay O’Brist took first and the Midwest Maulers baseball team float second.
This corrects the 2nd place winner in the family division.
Parade Grand Marshall Honorable E5 Robert Steven Hardy, U.S. Army. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Prairie State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution “Honoring the Fallen” took first in the Civic category. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia Elks members carry the large US Flag down the parade route, earning 2nd place in Patriotic. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Wamac “Lil Toot Train, Lil American Pride”. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Boy Scout Troop 260 Honor Guard. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Illinois Patriot Guard Riders “standing for Those, Who Stod for Us.” Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Disabled American Vets Egyptian Gateway Chapter #76. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Kaskaskia College Veterans Tribute “Patriotism”. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Midwest Maulers Baseball team took second in the Family Division. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Chakota Therapeutic Riding Center “Our Riders are our Stars.” Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Parade Chair Butch Mathus with the three queens who were in the parade, Miss Southern Illinois Lillian Wright of Belleville, Miss Marion County Fair Presley Harris, and Miss Clinton County Fair Shelby Peters while picking up a trophy for the Centralia Masonic Lodge and the City of Wamac. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
