Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Local kids participated in water fights at Gotte Park, sponsored by The Kimball Volunteer Fire Department on the Fourth of July, helping to cool them down on the hot day.
The local firemen once again gave fire truck rides at Gotte Park Friday morning.
On July 4, Americans everywhere gather to celebrate their country's Independence Day. Everyone does so a little differently, however, the main theme of the day is one of national pride. In Kimball it was no different.
The fire department kicked off the day with fire truck rides in Gotte Park. Kids young and old gathered around the old trucks, gleefully climbing over the back to take a seat at the top.
As with every year, many of the younger kids got a kick out of sounding the sirens over and over again, both amazed by and excited at the sheer velocity and range of it as the sound carried throughout the entirety of the park.
Local children and the firemen then got a chance to cool off with water activities sponsored by the fire crew, soaking each other's clothes with fire hoses and laughing as they ran towards each other during each water fight.
In Bushnell, Sister's Grimm used bookstore, celebrated their third year of being open. Jamie Carpenter, Deb Carpenter-Nolting and Tim Nolting greeted guests who arrived to celebrate the occasion. Coffee and iced tea were served to those who trickled in and out, as well as cookies decorated to reflect the spirit of Independence Day.
As dusk arrived and the day's activities drew to a close many ventured to the high school track in order to view the fireworks show sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and executed by the Fire Department.
The firework show started off with a rendition of the national anthem as each resident present removed cover from their heads and stood in solemn appreciation of the sacrifices made by men and women in order to uphold the liberties and freedoms that Americans enjoy, reminding residents what Independence Day is truly about.
Many watched from the bleachers on the track field and others watched from their vehicles as the sky was lit by the fireworks. Exclamations of awe were murmured throughout the crowd each time a firework took to the sky.
Long after the fireworks at the high school stadium had subsided, flashes of light continued to erupt in the sky around the city painting the pavement with red, white and blue as the thunderous sounds of the fireworks echoed through the alleyways of the downtown buildings.
The celebrations lasted far into the night as residents continued to awe and clap and cheer with each burst.
While the way everyone celebrates may differ slightly, everyone still has the same thing on their minds. Everyone thinks about the sacrifices made by those who fought for the freedoms Americans enjoy everyday, and everyone spends the day thankful that they live in a place where they can enjoy life the way they choose.