HAWLEY, Pa. — Main Avenue in downtown Hawley was a sea of red, white, and blue for the annual Independence Day Parade. Hundreds of people came out to salute the stars and stripes.
"It's fun, family, happy birthday to the US," said Shannon Malys of Hawley.
"It's the 4th of July; who doesn't need a red, white, and blue dinosaur? Nothing is more American than a red, white, and blue dinosaur," said Shari Isaacs.
Shari Isaacs traveled all the way from California to spend the holiday with friends.
"With everything that is going on in the world right now, there is nothing more important than showing your patriotism," said Shari Isaacs.
For people like Shannon Malys, who calls Hawley home, the holiday is about spending time with her kids.
"Tradition and patriotic-ness, we love our freedom," said Malys.
The patriotic parade dates back nearly 60 years. The tradition of coordinating the parade also goes back decades for Mark Carachilo's family.
"My father helped organize it, then my older brother helped organize it, then I was the third one in my family to help organize it," said coordinator Mark Carachilo.
Dozens of community groups paraded all the way down to Bingham Park. It's a sight organizers want to keep around for years to come.
"We need to keep the traditions going, and unfortunately, with small towns withering away, their traditions are withering with them, and it's important we celebrate our freedoms in America, the greatest country that ever was," added Carachilo.
Other paradegoers say it adds something special to the day, celebrating the holiday in small towns USA.
"A lot of, like, areas like these don't have this, and people have to go places. I think it's awesome because I know there's a nursing home, so they can just come over and watch. I think it's really cool," said Kaelyn Lucarelli of Hawley.