Willow Glen Resident

Community

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Celebration: Millpond Mobile Home Park Social Club president Yvonne Carr (right) and co-chairwoman of July Fourth festivities Lou Lansford enjoy their community's old-fashioned celebration.

Stars and Stripes fly high at Millpond on July Fourth

By Gloria Jabaut

Tucked away in south Willow Glen, the Millpond Mobile Home Park, a community of older adults, knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July.

The Millpond Social Club decorates the tree-lined entrance into the park with banners and flags, and all residents are urged to display their colors with pride. It's a celebration that has been going on for more than a decade.

Yvonne Carr, president of the club, says, "It's an annual celebration, one that really brings the community together." The day begins with a 9 a.m. white elephant sale in front of the clubhouse. It's a "no-holds barred" event as bargain hunters converge on the scene.

Elizabeth Gurka and Jeanne Harbor, event chairwomen, find themselves selling items faster than they can place them on display.

During this time, Nora Green and her crew are inside the clubhouse preparing for the annual bake sale. Outside children stand in line at the face-painting booth or participate in a variety of activities.

But the heart of the day revolves around the community's parade.

Parade participants gather at the tennis court area. Vintage cars, old hot rods, and children on decorated bikes and scooters are all welcome to participate. Police cars and fire engines with sirens screaming are also part of the parade.

Vinnie Coffaro dons his "Uncle Sam" outfit, complete with a red, white and blue silk top hat. Coffaro has played the part of Uncle Sam for the past 10 years.

"I really enjoy playing the part," says Coffaro. "I'm a very patriotic person, and I try to make everyone at the July Fourth celebration feel that patriotism, too."

Right before the start of the parade, residents, families and parade participants gather in front of the clubhouse. A huge American flag runs up the flagpole, and the crowd joins in the Pledge of Allegiance, led by none other than Uncle Sam, which is followed by the nation anthem.

After the ceremony, whistles and horns blow in unison, the signal to begin.

Uncle Sam leads the parade throughout the park. Some residents sit on their front porch, waving and clapping.

The parade winds its way back to the clubhouse, with the smell of barbecued hamburgers and Polish sausages wafting throughout the park.

All the fixings of an old-fashioned barbecue--beans, salads and strawberry shortcake--are ready to be enjoyed. The crowd picnics on the lawns and under the trees at the Millpond Clubhouse.

Carr says, "Millpond is a very social park, and the Fourth of July is our biggest event. More than 100 volunteers work on the activities for the day. We have so many veterans living here they help to make the celebration a real patriotic moral booster for the community."

Around 2 p.m., the celebrants gather in the social hall for the entertainment. On the program are belly dancers, an old-time sing-along and the distribution of door prizes.

As Uncle Sam says, "People at Millpond really know how to celebrate the Fourth of July."