July 18, 2006 > A Grand Parade

by Arnie Becker

Fremont's July 4th parade, "Honoring Hometown Heroes," outdid itself this year in number of entries, number of spectators and maybe even in quality of weather. Feelings of celebration, sharing, and patriotism filled the air. Crowds of people from all walks of life, ages, ethnic groups, some in wheel chairs, some in strollers, and more than a few on the shoulders of parents lined the parade route from Fremont Boulevard and Grimmer Boulevard all the way to Irvington Avenue and Chapel Way.

The Fremont Police Color Guard led the parade ahead of a contingent of motorcycle riders decked in red, white and blue. This was followed by Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, gymnastic performers, fire engines, old and new, riders on horseback, floats of local dignitaries and, of course, plenty of marching bands.

For more than an hour, entrants offered a variety of entertainment for young, old and everyone in between. It was a fine opening to an entire day of celebrating America's 230th birthday and many of Fremont's "Hometown Heroes" both present and past. Riders of the Hometown Heroes Float included Fremont Bank Foundation President Hattie Hyman Hughes, Fremont's first city manager, Bob Koop, Ohlone College Board of Education Trustee Garrett Yee, and Diane Layfield, the mother of Fremont resident Travis Layfield, a Marine killed in combat in Iraq in 2004.

Fremont 4th of July Parade category results:

People's Choice - Amigos de Acaballo
Most Patriotic Spirit - Exchange Club/ACE Cabinets
Most Patriotic Decorated Vehicle - PTCSV PT Cruisers of Silicon Valley

Marching Musical Unit (Band)
1st Place: Portuguese Immigrant Band
2nd Place: Irish Heritage Pipe Band
3rd Place: American High School Band

Drum & Bugle Corps
1st Place: San Francisco Renegades D&B Corps
2nd Place: Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets D&B Corps

Float Non-Commercial
1st Place: Prince of Peace Church & School
2nd Place: Celebrate Fremont Committee
3rd Place: Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce

Float Commercial
1st Place: Pirates of Emerson
2nd Place: Exchange Club / ACE Cabinets

Drill/Dance
1st Place: Titera Dance & Performing Arts Academy
2nd Place: K & K Twirlers
3rd Place: Can Do Its Square Dancers

Novelty-Youth Division
1st Place: Girl Scouts of S.F. Bay - Coyote Hills Assn
2nd Place: Fremont Chinese School
3rd Place: Boy Scouts of America - Mission Peak Dist

Novelty-Non-Profit Division
1st Place: Sikh Community of the Bay Area
2nd Place: Citizens for Better Community
3rd Place: Indo Americans for Better Community

Novelty-General Division
1st Place: Amigos de Acaballo
2nd Place: Arriba Vista Equestrians
3rd Place: Costco Wholesale Employees Assn #778

Vehicle
1st Place: Taiwanese American Federation of NorCal
2nd Place: Hometown Military Servicemen
3rd Place: Brake-Away A's Model A Ford Club