Large crowds turn out for Pima, Thatcher, Safford Fourth of July celebrations

GRAHAM COUNTY — The Gila Valley turned out to celebrate the Independence Day holiday Thursday.

Celebrations took place in Pima, Thatcher and Safford, with Safford adding a new event following the traditional parade.

PIMA

The Town of Pima and Eastern Arizona Museum and Historical Society again teamed for an early morning celebration. The flag-raising, and pancakes and eggs breakfast serves as a fund-raiser for the museum.

“We appreciate the town coming out and supporting this, appreciate the Town of Pima purchasing all the food and supplying everything, and the Fire station and Library for letting us use their supplies, tables and chairs. It’s really a good community event,” said Clint Woods with the Museum board.

The highlight was a presentation by Brent Mattice about James Lyle Grauer, a Pima High School athletic legend who was severely injured as a Marine serving in Viet Nam, but continued to serve his community when he returned home.

The Town opened the pool for free swimming from 1-5 p.m., and finished the day with the Pima Volunteer Fire Department’s fireworks show at Vard Lines Roping Arena at dark.

THATCHER

Sirens from the Thatcher Volunteer Fire Department engines woke the community and reminded everyone they could take part in the annual Community Parade, which traveled from Thatcher High School to Splash Pad Park.

Once at the park, the Gila Valley Children’s Chorale regaled the crowd with the national anthem, and Capt. Aaron Westerfield talked about his service in the Arizona National Guard before the crowd lined up for the pancake breakfast to be enjoyed under canopied tables and chairs.

“We’ve got better sound so everybody can hear the presentation, we’ve chairs out here and benches, we’ve blocked the traffic, so we’re just trying to make it a little bit better,” said Thatcher Mayor Randy Bryce.

The event ended with the most popular attraction to a Thatcher Fourth of July celebration — the Thatcher Volunteer Fire Department spraying the children with water shot from the top of the ladder truck.

SAFFORD

The Safford Lions Club moved up the start of the Fourth of July Parade to 9 a.m., to beat the heat as well as allow the City of Safford event on City Hall lawn to start before the sun hit its apex.

The parade started with the Gila Valley Honor Guard presenting the colors and national anthem sung by Lacey Bryce. It featured almost 40 entries, including appearances by U.S. Rep Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; multiple SalsaFest champion Amelia Sainz, who turns 100 this year; and the grand marshal, UFC fighter and Safford native Justin Gaethje.

“It was actually pretty cool to be a judge,” said Safford City Councilman Luke Arbizo. “It’s actually really hard because there were so many floats and you want to give everybody something.”

Arbizo, along with fellow Judges Jessica Guzman, from the Safford City Clerk’s Office, and Graham County Chamber of Commerce board member Royce Hunt-Bell, selected the four winners:

Most patriotic — Mike Bodine for Sheriff

Most creative — Safford Arizona Masonic Family

Best use of theme — Gila Valley Freedom Band

Best youth entry — Mt. Graham Little League All-Stars

After the parade, the crowd moved to the lawn of City Hall for a new event, that featured music and food vendors, and games for the whole family, including the Mann Mortgage Sack Races, Garrett’s Sweet Shop Patriotic Costume Contest and Safford Downtown Association Watermelon Rolling.

The celebration ended Thursday evening with Safford Volunteer Fire Department’s fireworks show at Graham County Fairgrounds.

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