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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 5, 2005 A rafting company parade entry came armed with water guns, but parade watcher Derek Volkart did it one better and good-naturedly ambushed the raft crews with his own water weaponry. ‘We Are Family’ Ashland’s Independence Day parade celebrates diversity JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — The theme of the Independence Day parade was "We Are Family" and Ashlanders enjoyed the diversity of their "family" to the fullest, with floats, dancers and marchers celebrating animal rights, peace, saving the wilds, supporting U.S. troops and many other causes. But mostly they had fun, especially enjoying the growing phenomenon of art cars � vehicles painted up in all imaginable motifs, one a crocodile with jaws and razorback, another as a red high heel shoe with glamorous blonde posed in it, yet another protesting the glamour industry. It was festooned with mirrors and model’s faces, asking "Who profits from your self- loathing?" "The art cars were really great," said Phyllis Leilani-Halsted of Ashland, who added she’s now inspired to follow suit and turn an old vehicle of hers into an art car. "Everyone put so much thoughtfulness and heart into them — into everything really. That’s what a Fourth of July parade should be." "It was wickedly fun," said Shakespeare Festival actress Nicole Strowkowski, the blonde in the red shoe, built and driven by David Crow of Ashland. "It was so much fun, the way people react, screaming and letting out the wild side." The two National Guard jet fighters, which have kicked off the parade by roaring down Main St. at treetop level for many years — often resulting in unhappy letters to the editor — were greeted with cheers and leaps from many in the crowd estimated at 20,000 strong. Advertisement "It was just so exciting — it really gets my heart pumping," said 18-year old Megan Hartsell. The polished Seattle Pacific Drum and Bugle Corps impressed Brian Beel and his wife Karen Beel of Ashland — and many others. The Beels welcomed the lessened emphasis on politics in the parade (a graphic anti-Bush float last year drew many objections). The biggest rounds of applause and shouts went to the Jackson County Democratic Party’s entry, featuring many placards: "Let’s Be Builders, Not Destroyers," "Those Willing to Forfeit Liberty for Security Will Have Neither" and "U.S. Dead, 1,745." They led the crowd in chants: "Bring ’em home" and the old ’60s mantra, "What do we want? (Peace!). When do we want it? (Now!)" "It showed the cultural aliveness of our community," said Gabrielle Smith-Dluha of Ashland, who walked her baby buggy in an entry that asked people to bike and walk, rather than to depend on oil from foreign trouble spots. "That’s what the Fourth of July is all about, politics and having the freedom to speak as we wish and be respected," said Smith-Dluha. "I was nervous about marching right behind a Bush truck but it was fine." A woman on one float carried a photo of her three servicemen sons and a placard, "My kids are serving to protect your freedoms." But in the theme of just plain fun on a summer holiday, people were willing to mostly take the day off from political thoughts and roar support for two young girls balancing on large beach balls as part of Ashland’s Circus and Dance Academy — as well as Dave Nourie of Ashland, who wowed the crowd with acrobatics on a BMX bike. "It’s a wonderful sense of community you get at this parade, " said Karen Beel. "It’s just the huge variety and diversity here, that makes you feel good," said Jim Sims, an Ashland lawyer. Some veteran parade watchers, like Adam and Jennifer Reed, expressed disappointment that some of the old favorite parade acts were gone — the marching won-tons from Geppetto’s Restaurant and the bed pan drill team. Margaret Dials of Gold Hill said, "It occurred to me that maybe the parade was not as whimsical as in the past because Ashland’s population is aging." People on floats of rafting companies shot the crowd with squirt guns, until police toned them down. Lots of hard candy got tossed to eager young children, who had written on the street in chalk, "Throw candy here!" Horses trotted smartly, samba dancers wiggled, a bald eagle, the mascot of Wildlife Images, rode regally — and, in the end, parade participants and watchers alike wandered off to Lithia Park for the traditional chicken dinner and burgers cooked up by local service clubs. John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. 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