Livin’ in the U.S.A.

By Catherine Amos

Published: July 4, 2008

The smoky scent of grilled burgers and hot dogs wafted across town Friday as residents and visitors celebrated Independence Day in Culpeper amid an abundance of red, white and blue.

The day began early for a few hundred dedicated racers outside Gold’s Gym for the Freedom 5K race. Town police blocked traffic as runners made their way up Blue Ridge Avenue, through town and around Yowell Meadow Park, where the majority of the day’s events took place.

Just before noon, Culpeper Minute Men, clad in heatstroke-inducing wool replica uniforms, marched to the courthouse lawn where former CMM president Dominic Lay read the Declaration of Independence. Board of Supervisors Chairman William Chase spoke briefly about his grandfathers’ military service and the importance of our servicemen.

“We must not forget today or ever those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Chase, one of two or three government officials at the event.

There was no formal representation from the town at the reading, though newly elected town councilman Bobby Ryan stood among the crowd of about 100.

“It was a very nice program,” Ryan said afterward as people formed a line to sign a copy of the Declaration.

As the day unfolded, East Davis Street filled to capacity with antique and novelty cars of every make, model and hue.

Motor enthusiasts examined engines of cars with pink fins, lime green hoods and purple bumpers with orange flames.

Brooks and Dunn’s “Only in America” played over the loudspeaker as families milled about downtown, enjoying lunch or signing cards for soldiers at one of two “Operation Gratitude” stations.

“The atmosphere here is real nice,” said Richmond resident Tommy Hudgins, who visits family in Culpeper every year for July 4. “I’d rather come here than stay in Richmond. They don’t have the parades like they used to. They have the fireworks, but you have to battle a lot of people.”

Hudgins and Culpeper resident Pat Riner, along with two others, enjoyed lunch under a tree in Yowell Meadow Park during a brief rain shower Friday afternoon. Menacing clouds loomed and threatened the day’s festivities, but the show went on and the patriotism never waned.

Despite a raindrop or two, the annual parade plowed through Main Street, complete with horse-drawn carriages, patriotic golf carts and a tractor towing a hay wagon adorned with American flags.

National pride was evident as Culpeper residents exemplified small-town America.

One casualty of the intimidating storms was the highly anticipated greased-pig chase, an event in this year’s inaugural Culpeper Olympics. According to Star-Exponent publisher and event organizer
Mitch Sneed, the pig’s owner was nervous about the weather. And Sneed said Culpeper’s Parks and Recreation committee wasn’t keen on the idea of a raucous pig stomping on the park’s possibly muddy fields.

But both parents and kids alike seemed to enjoy the Olympics’ other events, from a football toss to hula-hoop contests to sac races. Kids of every age competed for prizes and medals, showing off their skills.

“I don’t know, but I need a big hula-hoop,” said Marguerite Dugas, 7, of how she managed to keep the plastic ring around her swinging hips for so long.

Food vendors lined Yowell’s parking lot and an inflatable wonderland of red slides and blue castles occupied the baseball fields across the creek. American flag-inspired banners adorned the perimeter of the lake and the band “After 5” jammed for everyone’s entertainment.

“It’s always nice to see all the people come out,” said Latonda Hudgen, Italian ice vendor and CCHS teacher. “I don’t think we have enough of those kinds of community events to bring the community together. Families come out together and I look forward to that.”

Catherine Amos can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .