Scenes from the 4th of July

By Tracee M. Herbaugh, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 4, 2008 at 1:24 p.m.
Updated July 4, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.

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1:30 p.m.

Residents of Denver's Highlands neighborhood took things into their own hands after they couldn't find a 4th of July parade to attend last year.

"This year we decided to have our own," said Yael Nyholm, a member of the Highland United Neighbors, Inc., the community organization that planned the festivities.

About 400 residents marched up Boulder Street to celebrate Independence Day. The parade was followed by a neighborhood barbecue in Hirshorn Park on 17th Street with traditional fare such as hot dogs, potato chips and cheeseburgers.

The group hopes to make the celebration and annual event.

"Just over the last few years we've built a community, so when you walk down the street you know people," said Lu Stasko, who attended the event.

"I wanted to know our postman, and the neighbors and our merchants, and that's exactly what has happened."

Independence Day was more than fireworks and parades for some people in Denver, it was a chance to get a decent meal.

The Salvation Army hosted their annual community picnic attracting a diverse crowd of veterans, recovering alcoholics and homeless people.

“We try to make this into a celebration,” said Maj. Neal Hogan, the director of social services for Denver’s Salvation Army.

Hogan said the Salvation Army provides shelter and housing for about 600 people a night, many of which attended the picnic. About 10 to 20 percent of those who attend the picnic are veterans, he said.

For Dennis Dennis, a 47-year-old homeless man, the picnic was special because of the “wonderful people” who hosted the event.

“The people here are great, they are warm and giving,” Dennis said. “I can come here and they treat me with respect.

Covered wagons, cannons blasting, tee-pees and women wearing long dresses were all part of the July 4 celebration at Four Mile Historic Park.

The park’s staff hosted an “Old-Fashioned” Independence Day event that attracted about 1,500 people despite temperatures in the 90s.

“This is a nice family event,” said Paul More, membership coordinator for the park. “It’s also something to do during the day before all the fireworks go off.”

Four Mile Historic Park, located at 715 S. Forrest St., is the site of Denver’s oldest structure, an old stage coach barn.

For Trevor Bilbrey, a 7-year-old from Centennial, the loud blast from the cannon was the best part.

“I liked it a lot,” Bilbrey said, who was at the park with his grandparents and aunt.

For others such as Cristian Diaz, 31, and hist wife Amanda, 25, the event was a way to learn about the history.

“We wanted to do something traditional,” Amanda Diaz said, adding it was her husband’s first July 4th America after moving from Chile. “We thought we could learn about history and it’s different than his country’s Independence Day.”

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