Hundreds Turn Out for Annual Patriotic Salute

Mounted Guard at Parade

Residents enjoyed a perfect late summer day as hundreds turned out to attend the 2016 Tri-State 9/11 Tribute parade and festivities at the Prowers County Fairgrounds, Saturday, September 10^th.

Band Entertains the Audience

A long line of participants were present along the parade route which went from South 6^th Street to South 9^th and into the fairgrounds, beginning with the Ft. Carson Mounted Color Guard.  First responder vehicles from as far away as Springfield, Sugar City and Fountain were in line as the parade began at 10am at Beech Street.

Long Line-up of Life Savers

Numerous homes along the two mile route were decorated in patriotic fashion, while residents waved from their front yards.

Veterans of Desert Storm/Gulf War

Events at the fairgrounds included a flag retirement ceremony conducted by the local Cub Scout Troop and the 4^th Infantry Division Band entertained the crowd during the noontime BBQ.

Fly-Over Pilots

Doss Aviation also provided a fly-over just around the noon hour, coming in from Pueblo and timing their journey with pin-point precision.  The pilots who attended were Dennis Murray, Dave Myhre and Carolyn Sharp.

Viewing the Vendors at the Fairgrounds

The formal tribute ceremony was hosted by Lamar Police Officer Corey Allen Forgue, who told the crowd his father had served as a military policeman during WWII at the Alamagordo, NM nuclear test center. Special recognition was given to the late EMS Coordinator, Rick Hartley with former Lamar Fire Chief, Marshall Cook, who had made the trip down from Denver for the occasion.

Parade Entry

Alta Vista students began the tribute in the arena with their rendition of, “America the Beautiful”, along with other observances, as well as remarks from Doug Harbour, the Tribute organizer who has helped spearhead each year’s event since its inception in 2012.

Although it was a little windy by the afternoon, the day was still pleasant enough for a jog around Willow Creek Park, as dozens of persons of all ages, began their patriotic paint run to raise funds for the Lamar HOPE Center.

Colorful Runners

The second year of the event, runners follow a course that takes them through several stations where they are sprayed with red-white and blue corn starch for a patriotic effect.  There were stronger winds this year than last, which resulted in more starch in the wind than on the runners.

By Russ Baldwin