By Khalida Sarwari
From American flag bunting to patriotic windsocks, just about every storefront, gate, balcony and clay pot in downtown Saratoga is awash in red, white and blue to remind folks Independence Day is just around the corner.
The Fourth of July-themed decorations are part of the “America the Beautiful” project started in 2011 by Patricia Himel and Laurel Perusa, encouraging downtown merchants to get into the spirit of the holiday.
The project was motivated by a desire to honor their ancestors, said Perusa.
“Jack Mallory, Patricia Himel and I have ancestors that were in the U.S. prior to the American Revolution,” she said. “We deeply respect the devotion our ancestors dedicated to winning the American Revolution. We cannot even imagine the hardships they and their families endured during this time.”
“Part of the reason we are so dedicated to ‘America The Beautiful’ is for the respect we have for our ancestors and pride for what they accomplished winning the war and gaining independence from England,” she added.
The project has gotten bigger every year, said Perusa. This year, with assistance from Mallory and his wife, Sue, along with Sean Halasz, Perusa and Himel helped decorate dozens of businesses, among them the Barn Owl, Hong’s Chinese Gourmet, Preston Wynne, Gluten Free Gourmet, Saratoga Eyes and the Saratoga Historical Museum.
The ladies dedicated three mornings to the project, happily rolling up their sleeves to decorate for merchants.
“We love the Fourth of July so much that we’re happy to create decorations for the businesses that don’t have time,” said Perusa.
The decorations will be on display only until mid-July, and Perusa promised they’ll be back next summer.
“We just love doing this so much that we already have plants growing for next year,” she said.
The decked-out downtown is a prologue to the city’s official Independence Day event at Kevin Moran Park on July 4. The festivities will kick off at 9:30 a.m. at 12415 Scully Ave., with an opening speech by Mayor Manny Cappello, who will serve as emcee for the remainder of the program, and a medley of patriotic songs by the McCartysville Volunteer Band.
The rest of the program will feature the ringing of a 100-year-old bell, representing the Liberty Bell, by members of Sons of the American Revolution, as well as children’s activities, a presentation about U.S. history and a parade that will conclude with popsicles being passed around to everyone in attendance.
All attendees are invited to get into the spirit by dressing in red, white and blue, while veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms.
For more information, visit saratogaJuly4.com.
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