Southeast Messenger - July 1st, 2018

www.columbusmessenger.com
Groveport Fourth of July Celebration
July 1, 2018 - SOUTHEAST MESSENGER - PAGE 7
Groveport celebrates Independence Day in a big way
By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Groveport knows how to throw a
party on the Fourth of July.
The city’s annual Fourth of July celebration
will feature the traditional
parade, fireworks and more.
“Our festival has a special hometown
feel. There’s a closeness to it,”
said Groveport Mayor Lance
Westcamp. “We are ‘Central Ohio’s
Hometown.’”
The parade and grand marshal
The celebration will take place on
July 4 and begins with the parade at 11
a.m. The parade starts at the
Groveport Recreation Center and then
goes west on Main Street, then north
on Hendron Road and ending at
Glendening Elementary.
Westcamp said the parade is one of
his favorite things about the festival.
“It’s a chance to see a lot of people
who have moved away, but who return
to town for the parade,” said
Westcamp. “People always come back
home.”
Westcamp said the 121st Air
Refueling Wing of the Ohio Air
National Guard, located at
Rickenbacker International Airport, is
this year’s grand marshal for the city’s
Fourth of July Parade.
Colonel Mark Auer, the commander
of the wing, will represent his unit’s
1,200 airmen and women in the
parade.
The 121st’s mission is to deliver
worldwide air refueling, disaster relief
and combat support. Its official designation
was received in November 1950.
Since then, the unit has supported a
number of missions, including the
Korean Conflict, Berlin Crises, Gulf
War, and Operation Enduring
Freedom after 9/11.
Considered one of the premier units
in the Air National Guard and Air
Force, its men and women are dedicated
to continuing their record of outstanding
service to the nation, state
and community. The unit has received
four Air Force Outstanding Unit
Awards.
In October 2017, a KC-135
Stratotanker, the “Pride of Groveport,”
was dedicated in honor of Groveport.
Westcamp said he is proud of
Groveport’s relationship with the
121st, and hopes the unit considers the
city its “Hometown.”
Fireworks!
Fireworks at Heritage Park begin at
dusk on July 4 accompanied by patriotic
music. Tune into 88.3 FM on your
radio to hear patriotic background
music for the fireworks. Anyone within
a two mile radius of the festival will be
able to pick up the coordinated music.
“The radio connection will make the
fireworks even better,” said Westcamp.
“It’s going to be unbelievable.”
(The rain date for the fireworks is
July 7, at dusk.)
Information
For information about the Fourth of
July festivities, call Groveport Town
Hall at 614-836-3333.
Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove
Members of TurnPoint Church handed out popsicles
to parade watchers to help cool them off during last
year’s Groveport Fourth of July parade.
Groveport
4th OF JULY
Celebration
Major Sponsors
BERWICK GLASS & MIRROR INC.
DYNAMIX ENERGY SERVICE CO. LLC
1ST SERVICE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
LOCAL WASTE SERVICES, LTD
TURNPOINT CHURCH
2018
FREE
ENTRY
Prize
Giveways
Every Hour
from
1:00 - 5:00
Food will be
Available ffor
Purchase
from Venders
LIVE MUSIC
KID’S ACTIVITIES
FREE GIVEWAYS
Schedule of Events
1:00pm to 5:00pm
Music at the Main Stage with Special Guest Singer,
Guiterist Larry Carter
Kids Games & Activities
Inflatables & Bounce House
Youth Activities
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Gas Pump Jockeys
MAIN STAGE
7:35pm - Dusk
Agent 99
Fireworks at Dusk
Accompanied with patriotic music
Turn on 88.3 FM during the fireworks
All activities after the Parade will be on Wirt Rd.
4th of July parade begin at 11:00am
Fireworks will be displayed at Heritage Park