Fourth of July, 1946
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Huntington’s Fourth of July parade on July 4, 1946, included
this float
with a group of women proudly displaying Old Glory,
while a costumed “Uncle Sam” looked on.
Photo courtesy WV and Regional History Center, WVU Library
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In 1946, the Fourth of July was a
jam-packed holiday in Huntington.
It was less than a year since the Aug. 14, 1945, end of World War II
and people were still in a mood to celebrate. An all-day holiday
program, sponsored by the Huntington Chamber of Commerce,
was chaired by Col. George S. Wallace, president of the
Huntington Board of Park Commissioners.
The events began at 9 a.m. with two
memorial services
honoring the city’s war dead. One service was held at
the Ritter Park amphitheater and the other at Johnson
Memorial Methodist Church, jointly sponsored by
the Knights of Columbus, Council 963, and
the Huntington Ministerial Association.
A big parade stepped off at 10:30 a.m. and
followed a route
that took it past the 4th Avenue home of Huntington
Lodge 313, B.P.O. Elks, where local and
visiting dignitaries reviewed
the marchers.
In addition to the customary musical bands
and floats,
the parade included 750 troops from the Army’s famed
Fifth “Red Diamond” Division, who motored to
Huntington from Camp Campbell, Kentucky.
While here, the troops bivouacked at the
circus grounds across 5th Avenue from
Huntington East High School.
Thousands of onlookers crowded the
downtown sidewalks to take
in the parade, which included veterans of World Wars I and II,
a seemingly endless stream of military equipment, and
contingents of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp
Fire Girls, along with members of the Daughters
of the American Revolution (DAR) and
Sons of the American Revolutions (SAR).
The afternoon saw sports contests at Inco
Field, Onized Field
and St. Cloud Commons. That evening an estimated crowd
of 6,000 people attended an outdoor program, “The
Pageant of Nations,” at Fairfield Stadium, followed
by an elaborate fireworks display. Set off at the
circus grounds, the high-flying pyrotechnics
were visible over much of the city —
a colorful end to the big day.
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Note: This Article and picture appeared in the Herald-Dispatch Newspaper on July 4, 2023.
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