Dover Team helps community celebrate Independence Day

  • Published
  • By Susan E. Walls
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  More than 75 Team Dover members helped the City of Dover celebrate the birth of America July 4, with day-long activities, including a hometown parade, C-5 Galaxy flyover, musical entertainment and fireworks display.

Hundreds of local residents, community members and visitors to the First State, staked out their favorite shady spot on both sides of State Street for the City of Dover's Independence Day Celebration parade, sponsored by the American Legion Walter L. Fox Post No. 2.

At 6 p.m. Dover's Police Department Motorcycle Unit began to roll and give the spectators what they were waiting for - a celebration of freedom!

The Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard showed off their dress blues as they carried Old Glory and the Delaware flag in the parade. More than 30 members of the elite unit also participated in marching unit. Team Dover members, who are not part of the Honor Guard, marched in a separated unit. They were closely followed by several 436th Security Forces Squadron members who drove two HUMVEEs, and brought their crime prevention mascot, McGruff, along for the ride and to spread his "Take A Bite Out of Crime" message.

Tech. Sgt. James Thomas, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, spearheaded the effort to gather members from each Group on Dover AFB to march in the annual parade.

"I was very happy to have so many enthusiastic volunteers for this great event. We had 32 members from the Dover Team (not including the honor guard) willing to come out to support this parade," he said.

Engine 9, from the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron's Fire and Emergency Services Flight, represented the base. They were joined by another engine, and a hook and ladder truck from the City's Robbins Hose Company No. 2.

State Representative Nancy Wagner was the parade's Grand Marshall.

"I was very honored when asked to act as Grand Marshall this year," she said. "I've participated in Dover's parade for the past 15 years - so I was very humbled when the American Legion asked me to be Grand Marshall."

Many of Delaware's military heroes also attended Friday's events. Veteran's organizations, Boy Scouts, classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts, fire trucks, clowns, politicians and the Modern Maturity Center's "Steppin' Seniors," participated in the afternoon's events.

Guests, young and old, were treated to musical entertainment from the 287th Delaware National Guard Army Band, as well as the "Blue Aces," jazz ensemble from the U.S. Air Force's Heritage of America Band from Langley AFB, Virginia.

According to event organizer Greg Patterson, the day was the culmination of the entire community working together.

"Despite an impending storm that evening, the 9 p.m. fireworks even went off with out a hitch," said Mr. Patterson. "It was indeed a great day!"