George celebrates Fourth

GEORGE - George's Fourth of July celebration started on a dampened note with rain, but it soon gave way to sunshine.

The 51st annual event featured a Cherry Bomb Run, grand parade, speech by Ken Holloway, plus several entertainers and the serving of a giant cherry pie. Fireworks were scheduled for dusk.

"I'm amazed," said George Community Hall Director and coordinator of Independence Day festivities Debby Kooy. "I am so thrilled with this crowd. It's a big crowd."

Kooy said in her roughly 22 years of involvement with the event, this is the first year it opened with rain. Kooy was concerned rain would take a toll on attendance, but it didn't appear to dampen people's spirits.

Donations collected at the event went to fund it, Kooy said. Approximately $7,500 in funds was raised through the $100 Club, while the event cost $10,000 to put on, Kooy said.

"I love the small-town atmosphere and the patriotism of people," said Rep. Judy Warnick, R-13th District, who attended the event with her husband Roy Warnick.

Judy Warnick referred to such events as the "grassroots of patriotism."

She participated in the parade with the Grant County Horse Association.

Past association President Bill Bailey of Moses Lake, who led the pack of horses in the parade, said it was his first time attending the George event.

"These are the real fun places to go because everyone is involved," Bailey said.

Joe Escure attended with wife Cherie, grandchildren Destiney Escure, 11, and Brooklyn Escure, 7, and niece Courtney Dickinson.

"I always come for the parade," Joe Escure said.

The children were in the parade, wearing matching T-shirts and riding in the back of Escure's rock truck.

Destiney said the parade was her favorite part of the day so far.

The best part about being in the parade was "meeting everybody, meeting new faces. Seeing everybody," she said.

"Can't think of a better place to be on the Fourth of July," said Jed Rosenzweig of Seattle. He attended the event with Ross Bradley of LaCrosse, Wis., and Meghan O'Neil of Seattle.

"Just the name of it is specific. I mean, where else would you want to be except George, Washington?" Bradley said.

"Last year (I came) to see the cherry pie, and this year it's for the cherry pie, too," O'Neil said.

There's never been an accurate head count, but Kooy said before the event at least 2,000 bowls of pie are served each year. The words made of pie crust read, "Land of the free because of the brave. Thank you vets!"

Oakdale, Conn., resident Barbara Benham said she and her husband traveled to Quincy to visit family. They attended the event in George last year as well. She noted her granddaughter Abby Dyk, 5, won first place in the Cherry Bomb Run for her age category. Her sister Olivia Dyk, 4, rode in a stroller during the event.