East Grand Rapids celebrates July Fourth in style

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Celebrations for the Fourth of July are taking place across West Michigan. This includes East Grand Rapids, where community members came together for the city’s annual parade.

There was no shortage of excitement along Wealthy Street on Thursday for East Grand Rapids’ Fourth of July parade. The event brought large crowds to the city, who wore the United States of America’s colors with pride.

“The fact that this is actually on the Fourth of July, and being a veteran, makes it a very important day for us,” Michele Ferguson, a U.S. Army veteran, said.

Ferguson said this was her second time attending the parade. On the holiday, she keeps in mind everyone who has fought for the rights Americans have.

“The freedom to speak our minds and everything else that the Constitution stands for,” Ferguson said.

Some community members also headed to the East Grand Rapids parade for the first time.

“You might not know people but all of a sudden it seems like you’re together for a particular time and on this day it’s about independence, it’s about being American, it’s about being a community of people of different colors, of different backgrounds,” said Ralph Robrahn, from the Kentwood area.

Robrahn says oftentimes he thinks people may forget the true meaning of Independence Day.

“Because it’s a holiday and it’s time to get together and eat and all that kind of good stuff, but truly there are much deeper meanings,” Robrahn said.

In a time when the country can seem so divided, Ferguson says it’s good to have a reminder of what we have in common.

“This day our independence is very important to us regardless of what our political background is,” Ferguson said.

East Grand Rapids is also hosting a fireworks display over Reeds Lake at dusk.

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