When Fulton's second-annual Independence Day Parade kicked off at 11 a.m. Thursday from the Fulton Country Club, Parade Committee co-chairs David Beaver and Tom Maupin already knew it was a big success.
"I know the parade was considerably longer this year and I think (the crowd) is bigger, too," Maupin said. "It was a good day to have a birthday party."
Beaver and Maupin helped start the parade last year, continuing in the tradition of the Lion's Club Fourth of July celebrations from 50 years ago. This year also included a celebration at the newly-finished Memorial Park immediately following the parade.
This year, 15 of Callaway County's remaining World War Two veterans served as grand marshal, while dozens of other veterans followed suit, along with civic organizations, politicians, first responders, church groups and a myriad of others from the community.
Though Beaver was quick to remind everyone that the event was in honor of veterans, other residents went home big winners as well. Namely was Bryce Koelling of Fulton, who drove home in the 2010 Chevy Camaro pace car from the Indianapolis 500 that was raffled off by the Callaway Arts Council to benefit the downtown Fulton theater.