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By TIM DOHERTY • July 5, 2009
Ladell Brown,14 months, rides in a shopping cart adorned with patriotic decorations during the Stars and Stripes Fourth of July celebration in downtown Hattiesburg on Saturday.
Ladell Brown,14 months, rides in a shopping cart adorned with patriotic decorations during the Stars and Stripes Fourth of July celebration in downtown Hattiesburg on Saturday. (Matt Bush | Hattiesburg American)
Neither another sweat-stained afternoon of searing heat nor an unfamiliar sight of late in Hattiesburg - threatening skies - could dampen the spirit of the inaugural Stars and Stripes celebration in downtown Hattiesburg.
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"We actually had people come a little early," said Jennifer Rigney, a member of Group One of the Leadership Pinebelt's 2009 class that was the impetus behind the event. "They're anxious."
About 100 folks were on hand at Town Square Park to watch the posting of the American flag by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hattiesburg chapter before joining in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The celebration at the park was expected to continue until about 9 p.m. Saturday, capped by a laser light show in lieu of fireworks. Most of the area's shows had been canceled because of the extended arid weather conditions in the Pine Belt and the fear that sparks could create fires.
But even if the sparkle was dimmed, plenty of noise remained.
Ironically, the largest sustained applause during City Councilman Dave Ware's address came after a sustained rumble of thunder echoed across the field.
"Unfortunately, we haven't had rain in a month here, and now it looks like it's about to rain on this party," Ware said. "But you know what? I say bring it on."
Noise was plentiful, too, during the kids' parade that kicked off the festivities shortly after 5 p.m. Led by the blaring sirens of Hattiesburg Police Department patrol cars, about 50 people marched the few blocks down Main Street, from Pine Street down to the park.
Children were bedecked in their Fourth of July best, pulled in wagons, decorated carts or strollers. Even a small dog got in on the act, sporting a white body wrap adorned with the American flag.
At the front of the procession were members of the Pine Burr Area Council Boy Scout Troop 461, just behind a large banner that read, "Stars and Stripes, presented by brownstone's and 2009 Leadership Pinebelt Class Group One."
"This is like the first time we've ever been in a parade that I remember," said troop member Willie Hartfield of Hattiesburg.
Also at the front was 6-year-old Alexis Schmachtenberger, who will be a first-grader at Oak Grove Primary School this summer. After winning the title "Miss Teeny America" during competition in Hartford, Conn., Alexis waved to folks along Saturday's parade route, sporting a red-white-and-blue dress, tiara and sash.
"She was excited to do it," said her mother, Tiffany Kersten, "and she said she wanted to do it to represent all the kids for the Fourth of July."
Ware said he had high hopes for the fledgling event.
"I think it's one more step in the development of the downtown area," Ware said. "Group One set this up in a way to make this succeed. To me, the best part about this is that they involved the community in this.
"The city has been able to assist, but the fundraising was all done through private donations through the efforts of this group, and that's what can make this succeed."
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