July 4th in Alachua - a good day

(4 Jul 2010) There was rain in Gainesville and in surrounding areas, but in Alachua there was just a few sprinkles in the morning and the rest of the rain seemed to go north or south.  The festivities of the day continued and the fireworks from 2115 to 2200 were outstanding.

Adjutant Bob Barnas set up our vendor’s tent at 1000 in the morning and stayed with it until he took it down at 2230. Helping him was Chaplain Mary Hildebrand.  Under the new tent, a 9’x9’ red tent with black lettering “Marines” and Marine Emblems, they greeted visitors, answered questions, passed out newsletters with applications, and gave out commemorative brick order forms.

At around 1600, Marine Barnas was following the direction of Social Director Kay Quinn in setting up a second tent in the field where all the people were to gather.  Our unit banners were put up and it became our hospitality area.  On hand to help with that was Gwen Guzman and Mike and Edie Obrien.

Commandant Scott DuPree arrived in the afternoon with his family.  The event was a lot of fun for the many children that were there, as well as the adults.  A live band was playing.  Mike Obrien cooked up some hamburgers and we enjoyed a chow line at our tent.  And the fireworks display is still an amazing display for such a small town.

The City of Alachua is to be commended for their presentation of this year’s activities.  It was a lot of fun.