Othello holding Patriot's Day
OTHELLO — For many years, Othello celebrated the Fourth of July through the Sun Faire celebration, but this year the celebration changed its name to “Patriot’s Day.”
OTHELLO — For many years, Othello celebrated the Fourth of July through the Sun Faire celebration, but this year the celebration changed its name to “Patriot’s Day.”
Patriot’s Day is an all-day celebration Saturday filled with events recognizing veterans, a parade and youth activities.
Saturday kicks off at 7:15 a.m. with registration for the Anytime Fitness Run for America. The run begins at 8 a.m. at the green gazebo in Lions Park. There are one-mile, 5K and 10K races. Registration is $25.
At 8 a.m. the Othello Rotary is hosting a breakfast in the west shelter in the park.
Also beginning at 8 a.m. is the Walmart 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Lions Park basketball courts.
The McCain Foods Tennis Tournament begins at 9 a.m. at the Lions Park tennis courts.
At 10:00 a.m. the Patriotic Parade begins.
The parade route begins at 13th Avenue and Main Street continuing west on Main Street to Third Avenue.
“As the chamber would like to honor and show respect to our military persons, we are planning some unique things for the parade,” stated Othello Chamber of Commerce President Janelle Andersen. “Before the parade starts, we will have youth distribute small American flags and hats to observers to wave during the parade.”
The parade features Othello police, Mayor Tim Wilson, the Honor Guard, Tommie Tindell, Boy Scouts, Vietnam Veterans, and active and veteran military personnel.
Anyone with fallen friends or family serving in the military is asked to walk in the parade, Andersen added.
All other parade entries will follow behind.
The military groups in the parade will stop at City Hall for a ceremony, she stated.
A police car siren will sound or the Honor Guard will fire a round of ammunition. Military personnel will march from all the crossroads along the route toward American flags posted on the sidewalks. The first verse of the Star-Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited.
The mayor will address the public and citizens will salute military personnel while Taps is sounded, Andersen explained.
A three-rifle volley fired by the Honor Guard will follow.
A flag raising at Lions Park is scheduled at 11:00 a.m. followed by U.S. Air Force aircraft flying over the park at 11:30 a.m., she stated.
During the fly over, a large “Thank You” will be written in the grass as people are invited to stand on the letters to spell the words, Andersen explained.
She decided to have the annual celebration re-named Patriot’s Day after visiting with a local Vietnam veteran.
“This veteran served two years in Vietnam,” she stated. “As I have listened to his stories, both from the war and how he was treated when he got back, I felt great shame. He, along with all those other men and women did what their country asked them to do and more. He knew nothing of the protests until just before he landed. He was told to take off his uniform and never wear it again. He had feces thrown at him. As he left the base, he was called a baby killer. They never received a proper thank-you.”
Since learning of his struggle, Andersen became inspired to give a proper thank you to all war veterans and went as far as getting approval from the Pentagon to have the U.S. Air Force planes fly over Othello during the celebration.
The day continues with the Anytime Fitness Fire Engine Pull at Seventh Avenue and Hamlet Street. Teams will compete against each other to see who can pull an engine the fastest.
At 1 p.m., the Simplot Xbox Rock Band Competition begins in the green gazebo in Lions Park.
A demolition derby begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Othello Rodeo Grounds.
Beginning at about 10:20 p.m., a fireworks show sponsored by the Columbia Basin Herald, Othello Outlook and City of Othello begins.
The weekend concludes with a 10:30 a.m. Interdenominational Worship on Sunday at Lions Park.