2003 July 4 Daily Bulletin story with T. Willard Hunter quotes

Air Force recruiters driving miniature F-16 fighter jets. Marines creating a live tableau of the flag raising at Iwo Jima. Uncle Sam singing "God Bless America." Soap-box speeches. Dogs wearing red, white and blue bandannas.

Americana reigned strong on the Fourth of July in Ontario and Claremont.

Each city hosted a day of Fourth of July activities, and while each of the celebrations was distinctly American, they were distinctly different.

To beat the summer afternoon heat, Ontario's annual parade began early in the day. By 9 a.m. hundreds of people had staked out their spots along the expansive Euclid Avenue median.

Jennie Veenstra, a retired Arroyo Elementary teacher, sat in her lawn chair, with a small American flag in hand, and quietly cheered for the myriad of children, local dignitaries and veterans groups marching in the parade.

The Upland woman said the patriotism was stronger this year compared to the other 45 times she has watched the parade.

"I like to come watch the kids because it's a kids' parade," Veenstra said. "It always strikes a chord to see the kids in the parade."

Working her way through the crowd was Sharon Guengerich. She wasn't there to watch the parade, but she was celebrating the nation's day of independence.

The Ontario woman was working the crowd to get as many signatures possible to recall Gov. Gray Davis. The pro-lifer doesn't like that Davis is pro-choice and blames him for the state budget deficit.

"As patriotic and good citizens, we should be doing the right thing and this is the right thing," she said holding up the petitions.

Other than Guengerich, the Ontario crowd was not political, just patriotic.

At Memorial Park in Claremont, however, throughout the day members of the community signed up for 10 minutes to speak about whatever they wanted on a stage, microphone at hand behind a podium.

The idea was born 26 years ago, when Willard Hunter had an idea. Sick of the Fourth July being more about hot dogs and fireworks, rather than the values the Founding Fathers instilled into the country's psyche, the Claremont man started the Speakers Corner.

"Someone should stand in the corner of the park to say why we should celebrate the Fourth of July," Hunter said. "Someone should give context to this."

Twenty-two people signed up to speak. Pat Patterson, of Pilgrim Place and a major organizer of the Claremont peace vigils before and during the war in Iraq, gave a gripping speech titled, "How do you cure the 9/11 disease?"

While a bustling fair in the park was going on, Patterson gave a strong critique of the current White House administration and its abuse of power abroad and on the home front. Her voice was wavy, but her words were strong.

"How could we imagine where we would be now when we waltzed into the 21st century?" she said.

She said the American public's post-9/11 fears are allowing the Bush administration to stronghold civil and constitutional freedoms.

While people spoke at the Speakers Corner throughout the day, many humanitarian and social groups set up booths. Many sold food and, arts and crafts.

People of all ages filtered through the shady park, some with flags or other red, white and blue paraphernalia.

Like Ontario, Claremont also hosted a parade with many youth groups and organizations.

While people at the two celebrations focused on different agendas to celebrate the nation's Independence Day, there was one thing in common; everyone seemed to have had unyielding respect for the foundation of this country.

Republican or Democrat; pro-life or pro-choice; boxers or briefs, while these agendas (some more than others) can cause great divides, everyone seems to agree in the agenda set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Nobody appeared to disagree with that.

Lisa C. Berghouse can be reached by e-mail atl_berghouse@dailybulletin.com .