Blue Mound honors American Legion veterans on the 250th birthday of the United States

Members of the American Legion were the grand marshals of the Blue Mound July 4th parade. District Adjutant Marri Krupco called area posts and invited them to join members of the Blue Mound-based Mooney-Long Post No. 279. Joining them was members of the Commanders, the newly formed Linn County American Legion baseball team. Click on arrows for slide show, and click on photos for full-size image. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

If you are accustomed to seeing a color guard – usually a couple of flag carriers flanked by a couple riflemen – at the front of parades in Linn County, the opening of the Fourth of July parade at Blue Mound on Saturday was different. And some might say better.

Instead a phalanx of motorcycles rolled slowly and solemnly down the city's main street, stopping in front of the announcers kiosk set up in front of the Blue Moon theater. As they dismounted, it was apparent they had come from out of town, mostly from Gardner and Paola.

Veteran and Legion member Neil Wright wheels around his mini-Willys replica while tossing candy to the children.

Behind the motorcade came a float with members of the local American Legion Mooney-Long Post No. 279. No matter where their home post was the American Legion members were the grand marshals of the Blue Mound parade. And behind the float came four members of the Commanders, the American Legion baseball team comprised of players across Linn County.

School's out? No problem for the Jayhawk-Linn marching band comprised of senior- and junior-high musicians as they march in a hometown parade. Darbi Brake is the flutist who wears many hats.

While the Blue Mound parade usually draws a good crowd, it appeared that even more people turned out this year than last. Last year the weather wasn't just threatening, it was raining, and as one farmer who was getting soaked commented, "Any time it rains in July it's a good thing."

Emery Weers, center, goes all in on face-painting for the 250th birthday celebration. She was joined by friends Tatum Freeman, left, and Rory Cross.

This year the parade started dry and ended dry, but as spectators shifted to the concrete pad next to the Blue Moon for the pedal pull contest, the dark clouds quickly rolled in bringing with it lightning and rain. That sent participants to the Blue Moon or their cars and pickups for shelter. And as those vechicles evacuated the area, it created a temporary traffic jam on Kansas Highway 52.

This duo of Talia and Tryke Ranes perform the National Anthem at the beginning of the parade.

Once the rain was over, though, organizers sent out a Facebbok post asking people to return because the rain was over. The remainder of the day went on as planned with burnout contests, a dance for the kids and fireworks that evening.

Just as the pedal pull competition is ready to start, the dark clouds and rain rolled in.

All of that has us wondering. If it rains on Blue Mound's parade next year, wlll residents in the area be able to count on a heat-wave ending soaking every year on parade day? If so, it would be another reason to look forward to the Fourth in Blue Mound.

More photos fron the parade (click on each image for full-size photo):