Valley celebrated Independence Day from morn to night

By VIRGINIA GIORGIS Pioneer Editor vgiorgis@bridgervalleypioneer.com
Posted 7/7/17

July 4 celebration in Bridger Valley

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Valley celebrated Independence Day from morn to night

Posted

BRIDGER VALLEY — A festive atmosphere was in the air Tuesday morning at area residents pulled in and parked on the main road through Fort Bridger as they awaited the July 4 Independence Day parade.

The street filled, and people got out of their vehicles. Having pulled in and parked early, they waited, talked, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. With the traffic stopped and the road blocked off, people looked to the east for the first float to enter the highway as the floats came from the American Legion Hall. A big flag hung in the middle of the street.

First in line was the presentation of the colors brought on horseback by local law enforcement and Legion members.

Ray Tanner, a Purple Heart recipient of the Korean Conflict was in a place of honor at the beginning of the parade. Tanner, tapped as the Grand Marshal by American Legion Post 36, served and was wounded during the Korean Conflict.

Floats in the parade were awash in red, white and blue. Some of the viewers on the sidelines also sported red, white and blue; colors of the American flag.

Activities following the parade included the Kids Xtreme Day at the Fort Bridger State Historic Site. At 2 p.m. additional festivities started in Lyman at the Heritage Barn. It was time for kids to take a soaking at the splash pad, enjoy the bouncy houses, get their faces painted and more. As for the adults, it was time for coed volleyball and other games.

Pictured:

Ray Tanner, left, was tapped as the 2017 July 4 Grand Marshal by American Legion Post 36 for this year’s Independence Day celebration Tuesday in Fort Bridger. Tom Dean, fellow Legion member drives Tanner through the parade route. PIONEER PHOTO/Virginia Giorgis