Patriotism rings along Main Avenue during July 4 Parade

Tuesday, Jul 4, 2017 4:00 PM Updated Tuesday, Jul. 4, 2017 9:09 PM

Indivisible Durango voices political concerns at parade

Rod and Robbin Turner are pulled down Main Avenue in their 1937 Century wooden boat on Tuesday during Durango’s Fourth of July Parade.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Larry and Hallie Slivon walk with Indivisible Durango during the Durango Fourth of July Parade Tuesday on Main Avenue.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Paisley Spykstra, 5 months, is held by her dad, Dan, who is in the 947th Engineer Company in Durango, before the start of Durango’s Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Terry Jirsa with his miniature donkeys stop for a moment to let kids pet them during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. See more photos at www.durangoherald.com.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Paisley Spykstra, 5 months, is held by her dad, Dan, who is in the 947th Engineer Company in Durango, before the start of Durango’s Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Rod and Robbin Turner are pulled down Main Avenue in their 1937 Century wooden boat on Tuesday during Durango’s Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Larry and Hallie Slivon walk with Indivisible Durango during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Terry Jirsa with his miniature donkeys stop for a moment to let kids pet them during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Color Guard lead the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango Fire Protection District was able to free up equipment from the Lighter Creek Fire for the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

On lookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jordon Dence, 12, shows his patriotism on Tuesday during the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Rosemary Benson, 2, sees the start of the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Rod and Robbin Turner are pulled down Main Avenue in their 1937 Century wooden boat on Tuesday during Durango’s Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Larry and Hallie Slivon walk with Indivisible Durango during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Dave Turner rows his boat during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Shriner’s Tin Lizzies make their way down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A giant-sized Uncle Sam waves to the crowd during the Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jason Davenport sprays the crowd during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Several participants during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Durango Herald float during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Anistynn Hermesman sits high up on a Penny Farthing with the assistance of dad, Tony, and mom, Danielle, before the start of the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bo sings with the sirens during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office vehicles make their way down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith waves to the crowd going down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday.

Westwind Pipes and Drums walk down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Several participants during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Indivisible Durango during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Albert Piccoli, left, and Eric Petersen, 8, with Cub Scouts Pack 508 walk in the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Several participants during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Dan Harriss of D& K Wagon Rides waves to the crowd with Allen Harris, 12, and Jodie, 5, during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A rainbow appears as Jason Davenport sprays the crowd during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Lexie Crawford, Fiesta Days Queen, rides down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Lynn jack rides down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango American Little League Colorado District 4 Champions walk down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Several participants during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Terry Jirsa with his miniature donkeys stop for a moment to let kids pet them during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Onlookers line Main Avenue on Tuesday for the Durango Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Avery Wickes, 14, left, and Alana Kuefler, 15, ride their bikes down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango American Little League Colorado District 4 Champions walk down Main Avenue during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Several participants during the Durango Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Main Avenue filled with color, patriotic song, cyclists, and a few miniature donkeys during the Fourth of July Parade Tuesday.

The sidewalks were packed, even though the city of Durango canceled the annual fireworks display in the wake of the Lightner Creek Fire burning west of town.

Durangoan Karen Umbhau didn’t mind the cancellation given the energy, resources and expense put into fighting the fire.

“They can use those fireworks another time,” she said.

Among many clubs decked out in red, white and blue, Indivisible Durango, a group formed after President Donald Trump won the election, showed their patriotism by voicing concerns on myriad of issues.

Members carried signs reading “Health care is a human right,” “Protect the First Amendment,”“Resist Injustice not Each Other” and others covering a variety of issues.

Some Indivisible members said expressing their views on the Fourth of July was fitting.

“We’re fighting for what’s right for this country,” Julie Daugherty said.

Indivisible member Doug Fults was marching for health care for all and felt Independence Day was a good time to speak out because the holiday is all about citizens gaining the right to speak out and participate in democracy.

Karen Skelly was walking for the environment and public lands and regulations that protect the planet.

“I happen to like our planet the way it is,” she said.

Spectator Patrick Casula, from Virginia, appreciated the Indivisible messages supporting civil rights, women’s rights, health care and other issues. “There’s no better time to show free expression than on the Fourth of July,” he said.

Richard Fultner walked with the La Plata County Republican Central Committee, a group that participates in many parades.

“We know that we are the minority and we want to get our faces out there,” he said.

Local Republicans are concerned about everyone’s rights, not excluding anyone, and keeping the political conversation civil, he said.

Earlier in the day, a crowd at Buckley Park was reminded of America’s founding ideals at “American Voices,” a concert and document reading.

In addition to solemn reminders of the Fourth of July’s significance, Southwest Civic Winds played patriotic marches and well-known melodies, such as “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Fort Lewis College and the city of Durango hosted the event, and all of the readings were presented in their original forms so listeners could shape their own thoughts about the readings’ impact on history, FLC President Dene Thomas said.

Cindy and Daniel Molina, visiting from Albuquerque, appreciated the readings, especially “Legal Alien” by Pat Mora because it addresses the bicultural experience of Mexican Americans.

“It brought some more meaning to it,” Mora said of the readings.

mshinn@durangoherald.com