By Elizabeth Cloutman
 Illustration by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier |
Los Altos celebrates Independence Day with song, old-fashioned barbecue in the park
For most people, July 4 is a day full of traditions - a day off work with the family, enjoying barbecues in the park, patriotic speeches and music and displaying the American flag.
Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents can commemorate the nation’s birthday today, with all these traditions included, at the fourth annual Glorious Fourth Celebration. There will be a patriotic program from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and a barbecue from 12:15 to 2 p.m. in Shoup Park, 400 University Ave., in Los Altos.
The Glorious Fourth Celebration is one of Los Altos’ newer traditions. It began in 1998 with the dedication of the Veteran’s Memorial in Shoup Park and quickly became a popular event. “If it’s like the last couple of years, there will probably be 2,000-3,000 people attending,” said Sam Harding, chairman of the committee of 12, who planned the event. “It’s grown like this because of the interest of the community and (the support of) the Packard Foundation.”
This year’s program will feature the Marine Corps Drill Team and Color Guard, and music by the Ye Olde Towne Band and the 45-member Bay Area Showcase Chorus (Sweet Adelines). Retired Capt. George Wright will give an invocation and Larry Blake will play the bugle.
Ye Olde Town Band, which has 50 members has been a tradition in itself in Los Altos since 1972, when it moved from Redwood City as a result of a grant from the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce. “We also play in Shoup Park the last Sunday of the month,” said Jerry Rosenblum, the band’s business manager. Fifteen band members are also part of the group’s float band, which participates the annual Festival of Lights and Pet Parade, he said, and the group’s Los Altos Big Band often plays at community functions.
The slated speakers are Armand King, a Los Altos History Museum docent, and Los Altos High School senior Katharine Hill, who represented the city at the 2001 Girl’s State convention in Claremont. The program is free.
A catered barbecue follows the program. The menu includes traditional July 4th fare: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, garden burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon and dessert. Tickets for the barbecue are $5 and will go on sale, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Packard Foundation is underwriting $10 per lunch to keep the event affordable for all.
Members of the American Legion Post 558 will provide all the service flags, including 2,000 small American flags that will be handed out to visitors.
Legion member Bill Goss noted that there will be 10 Girl Scouts and Brownies and 8-10 Boy Scouts to participate in the celebration. The Legion is also transporting those who are disabled or otherwise unable to come to the event under their own power.
“We do it to let people be aware there are veteran organizations around that volunteer and help in community activities,” said retired Col. Hank Nagao.
Nagao, on the Glorious Fourth committee, has been a longtime member of the American Legion.
The celebration promises plenty of fun, but also serves as a reminder of how important freedom is, organizers said.
World War II veteran Bill Henderson, who along with vet Jay Brandon led the drive to place the statue, “Cradle of Liberty,” at Shoup Park, said today’s celebration is “important to the city. Our freedom has been paid for by a lot of people who came before.”
The Glorious Fourth Celebration is sponsored by American Legion Post 558, Bank of Los Altos, City of Los Altos, Kiwanis Club of Los Altos, the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, Los Altos Rotary Club, the Los Altos Town Crier, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Veterans Memorial Association of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
