2007 4th of July Parade Float 

Our second-annual parade float was a winner, even if the judges didn't think so. The 2007 Parade theme was "American Patriots" and for our float we designed a boat to symbolize the way the first American Patriots came to this country. Through our portholes you could see many of the American patriots looking out; people like George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Samuel Clemens, Rosie the Riveter, Sam Houston, etc. Those walking in the parade or riding the float wore t-shirts of the same design in red, white and blue. We handed out 1,300 yo-yos to parade-goers. Here's documentation of the build on Saturday, June 30; the parade on Wednesday, July 4; and the t-shirts and yo-yos. 

Thanks to all those who participated in designing, building, and/or walking in the parade.

 
The starting point. The Polks trailer has been retrofitted with this terrific metal frame and the benches, a donation made by the Rossitto family. 
To the Rossitto's and Polks: 
We are extremely grateful!! 

Here come the troops!

Gathering around the water and donuts to get our marching orders.

The troops are growing.

Here's the material for the sails. 

What to do first?? Thanks to Ralph Smith who made a detailed drawing of how to build the boat, we have a plan.

Well, let's get some wood.

And take some measurements for the paneling (sides of the boat).

Time for those cuts. Go Andrew! (Under John's watchful eyes of course.)

The cut has been made so let's get started building the boat.

Adam tries to figure out how this is going to become a boat. 

Inside, out of the sunshine, Virginia, Everett, Melanie, and Debbie work on the sails.

Cutting away.

Then Catherine, Rachel, and Virginia start designing the red sails.

Everett supervises Virginia and Melanie.

With the painter's tape in place, Melanie starts applying the design on the white sail.

Red stripes and a blue star!

The last red stripe: 2 supervisors, 1 worker.

Applying the sail to the bottom wood piece.

Whose idea was it to work in the sun? We are moving this operation into the shade.

Aaah. Adam thinks that is much better.

Attaching another piece of the boat.

John is making more precision cuts!

And again, more cuts.

Now John has help from Andrew, Adam, and Zach.

In the meantime, Skip has been working on the mast and supports for the sails.

Skip and Steve put the mast in place.

Almost all the sides are in place.

Adam drills some final holes for the cable ties.

Have drill, will build.

Adam drills while Debbie watches.

Ryan and Zach take a break,

While Rachel continues to work.

Steve working to stabilize the mast.

As the mast work continues, so does attaching the sides.

Could this be the last tie?

Everett and Virginia guarding the ship's wheel.

Now Steve and John work on cutting out the waves.

More waves.

The front of the boat moves into place.

Adam supervising again.

Does it match up?

Andrew, Adam, Ryan and Zach taking a break.

It's porthole time!

Everett and Debbie just admiring their work.

Here's Ryan, making the brilliant suggestion of having patriots looking out of the portholes.

Let's see now. How should we arrange the portholes?

Line it up, just like this.

Portholes moving into place.

Ryan stapling on the portholes.

A step back to admire our work.

Andrew shows off the ship's wheel he is lending to the float.

Attaching the ship's wheel to the mast.

Now, Abby works to attach the sails to the mast.

Koby takes a turn at stapling the sails onto the mast.

More attaching of the sails.

The rest of the group is getting hungry and ready for pizza!

Adam takes a turn with the red sail.

Abby finishes up.

The sail is now being put in place.

Moving it to around the center support.

There she is! What a beauty.

It's time for this hard-working crew to eat!

Everyone enjoys pizza and soda after working in the heat and humidity all morning.

Aren't these some of the best and most hard-working youth? 

What some people won't do for pizza! 
Spend the whole morning sweating!

Wednesday, July 4th—Parade Day!

Pulling our float is a bright red Hummer!

Our boat float, sailing across the waves, with portholes, sails, and "American Patriots" on board.

Stephen, Clint, Emily and Ashton waving to the parade attendees.

Pastor David Jones is greeting so many people he is now with another group!

Our hard-working Christian Education Director takes time from her busy summer schedule to walk in the parade.

Everett, Andrew and Steve enjoying the crowds.

Okay, it's not our float, but Dominique is playing with the TWHS band.

Charlene, Melanie, John, Norma Jean, and Jim enjoy visiting before the parade begins (that's Paul missing in the chair; he's taking the picture).

This year we wore red, white, and blue t-shirts. This was on the front of the t-shirt.

And here is the scripture and artwork that was on the back.