SoNV Agency Partnership joins in ‘Damboree’ Parade to celebrate Independence Day

Written by: Steve Leon

On a warm southern Nevada day or especially on the Fourth of July, there is nothing like riding in the bed of a pickup filled with water as you prepare for a “good old fashioned water fight.” Photo courtesy of Marc MaynardWhat were you doing on July 4? For one group of Lower Colorado Region employees, the Independence Day observance included a warm and later, wet walk through Boulder City in its annual Damboree Parade.

The annual holiday event, which included a parade, picnic, music, games, entertainment and fireworks that lit up the night, attracted about 30 Reclamation employees, family members and friends who chose to participate in the parade. However, they were not alone. National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members and some of their families also participated, which increased the number of participants to an even larger group, observed Marc Maynard.

“As you can see in our parade banners, we represented the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership, which also includes the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service,” Maynard added. “The parade was fun and we successfully unloaded two pickup truck loads full of water on parade spectators!”

“‘Fun’ and ‘Wet’ are two words I will use to describe the Fourth of July Parade,” declared Maria Romasanta. “It was great!”

“Having grown up in a small town and being accustomed to small-town parades, I believe the Boulder City Fourth of July parade tops them by far,” said John Shields. “Here is a community that goes all out — nearly everyone is wearing red, white and blue, you can feel the pride in the community of being Americans and Nevadans, and everyone is there to have a good time. There aren't any strangers in town — everyone is either a friend or about to become one or at least an acquaintance.”

“Participating in the parade was a very satisfying experience, especially being a part of the water fight in the Wet Zone,” he added. “It is not to be missed! People from 8 to 80 are having fun, getting you wet and enjoying having you get them wet. It is very much a good-natured, let's have a good time atmosphere!”

Shields continued by describing the 36-inch barrel water squirter he bought at a local sporting goods store.

“They had the best price and their sales staff were all coming to this parade as well,” he said.

Published on July 08, 2016