PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HORSES ON PARADE … This young girl rides her decorated horse in the annual Kunkle Fourth of July Parade held on Saturday, July 4.
LEGION COLOR GUARD … Members of the Pioneer American Legion color guard marched in the Kunkle Fourth of July Parade held on Saturday, July 4.
BUCKEYE 4-H CLUB … Members of the Buckeye 4-H Club ride in a float in the Kunkle Fourth of July Parade.
PATRIOTS MARCHING … In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, three men dressed as Patriots participated in the Kunkle Fourth of July Parade.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS … The Pulaski Garden Club celebrated its 100th birthday with a float in the Kunkle Fourth of July Parade.
By John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It has been a longstanding Independence Day tradition for over 60 years, and once again the annual Fourth of July Parade was held in the small Williams County village of Kunkle on Saturday, July 4.
The parade lasted nearly one hour, with people setting up yard chairs along County Road O, an east-west road through the village, for the annual holiday event.
It also provided strong community involvement and participation from nearly every corner of Williams County, with every village and town represented in different fashions.
Sponsored by the Kunkle/Madison Township Fire Department, this year’s parade had a major significance as the United States of America celebrated its 250th birthday.
Former radio broadcaster Bill Priest served as the master of ceremonies for the parade, which got its start back in 1962.
Priest told the crowd that three people — Billie Apt, Ellen Stiving and Anna Rademacher — got together and formed an event for the kids in Kunkle so they would remember what America was all about.
They organized a decorated bicycle parade, starting off with a few bicycles. The kids would ride around and receive prizes.
“It has grown ever since,” added Priest. “And it has grown into the parade that we have today, and they do so nicely here. So that we remember what this wonderful land of ours is all about. We get together and celebrate and enjoy our families together.
“This is like a family reunion for a lot of people. I hope you enjoy the Kunkle parade today and remember what our country is all about just like Billie Apt, Ellen Stiving, and Anna Rademacher was hoping would happen all those years ago.”
Getting the parade off to a patriotic start was the American Legion Riders Post 669 of West Unity, who helped lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The American Legion Posts of Pioneer and West Unity followed with the presentation of colors and the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the North Central High School band.
Also in the parade were area township and village fire departments, including Kunkle/Madison Township, Millcreek/Alvordton, Northwest Township, Brady Township, Springfield Township, Florence Township, along with Edgerton and Montpelier Village, and Gorham Township and German Township out of Fulton County. The Wright-Waldron Fire Department in Michigan and the Williams County EMS participated as well.
The parade also featured several 4-H clubs, area churches and businesses, decorated horses, antique cars and antique tractors.
A chicken barbecue sponsored by the Kunkle/Madison Township Fire Department was held following the parade.
