Well before the traditional fireworks show at the Fulton Country Club Wednesday night, veterans, civic groups, businesses, politicians and patriotic citizens were gathering across the street for the city's first public celebration of Independence Day in recent memory.
Fulton's first 4th of July Parade kicked off from 10th Street near the Country Club 11 a.m. Wednesday, before heading down Court Street toward Memorial Park at 2nd Street. Event organizer and Fulton American Legion Post 210 commander David Beaver said he was proud to see something he and other parade organizers had worked toward come to fruition.
"The last full, all-day celebration of any type was back in the "50s," said Beaver. "At my oldest I was 10 years old. It used to be at Reeds Lake, but when that faded, all veterans and citizens relied on the Country Club to give an Independence Day celebration. We still appreciate what the Country Club does ... but we felt we really needed to celebrate our nation's birthday."
After speaking with councilman Steve Moore and VFW District 9 quartermaster Tom Maupin, Beaver pushed the idea through city council last year, leading to the parade Wednesday.