Economic woes and oil spill worries took a back seat to the stars and stripes Sunday as thousands lined a Main Street alive with red, white and blue for the annual July 4 parade.

Spirits were high and there seemed to be an extra bit of energy behind the flag waving this year as Clayton eagerly embraced the patriotic celebration that began with the presentation of colors by VFW Post 1575 and the National Anthem, this year sung by Clayton resident Julia Aguilar.

Then the kids came--hundreds of them. Kids on decorated bikes and scooters, in wagons, prams and strollers waved to friends as they made their way down Main Street.

“Are all these kids from Clayton?” joked Emcee Dan Ashley from the microphone. “I think they’re circling around two or three times.” This was the 15th year that Ashley, an ABC-7 News Anchor and former Clayton resident was Master of Ceremonies. “We know we’ve had some challenging times recently,” Ashley said on a more serious note, “but when you look at these kids and Clayton, you know things will be OK.”

The kids were followed by City Council members waving from open convertibles and 37 entries from local clubs, businesses and churches, all moving along more or less smoothly. Things slowed just a bit when Hillbilly Doug’s Model T stalled in front of Clayton Community Church, but a few volunteers from the audience jumped in and pushed the vintage truck the rest of the way down Main Street.

“The 4th of July is one of Clayton's hallmark festivities enjoyed by thousands of Clayton area folks every year,” says City Councilwoman, Julie Pierce. “While planned and organized by a very small group, it's success is due to our many wonderful volunteers who pitch in on the day of the 4th to make the event go smoothly.“

The 4th of July Committee is co-chaired by Sandy Johnson and Julie Pierce. Joe Medrano, Dan Richardson, Herb Yonge, Mike Williams. City staffers Laci Jackson and Laura Hoffmeister complete the committee with logistical support given by the city maintenance support and the police department.

Volunteers manned the barricades and parking lots and took care of parade check-in and organizing the kiddie and main parade lineup.

“Extra thanks go to those who stayed after and helped with clean-up,” Pierce notes. “Many of these people help out every year and say they love being part of making the day special for the community.”

Missing from the celebration this year was the Kiddieland play area. At a cost of $4,500, there was no room in the city budget for it. “We just couldn’t afford it,” Pierce explains. “I wonder if anyone really missed it.”

For the past 11 years, the Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary Club has been kicking off the July 4 celebration early with a pancake breakfast at Endeavor Hall. An army of volunteers cook up more than 1,000 breakfasts to raise over $5,000 to support their charitable activities, which include support for literacy programs.

Clayton’s Independence Day celebration began back in the early ‘70s when a few kids decorated their bikes with balloons and flags and marched through their neighborhood streets. The festivities soon spilled over to the downtown and locals began to gather to celebrate in the eucalyptus grove which stood where the downtown park is now (which is why the park is called The Grove). There were horseshoe and greased pole contests. The local restaurants set up barbeque grills and food tables and the event grew from there.