Payson Roundup

Wow, what a great 4th of July!

Kudos to all who planned it, pulled it off, and participated.

The event started at 8 a.m. Saturday morning with the Rim Country Detachment of the Marine Corps League raising our nation’s flag over Green Valley Park Veterans Memorial. Marine veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam took part in a short, but fitting, ceremony. All these “old vets” seemed to stand just a little taller as Old Glory was raised to our national anthem and followed by the Marine Corps hymn.

The rest of the day was overflowing with kids, kids and more kids. What fun it was to see them participating in good “old-fashioned” fun at the park — including three-legged races, sack races, foot races and, to top it off, a tug of war between out-of-town visitors and Payson locals. Payson won the two contests, with both teams laughing and smiling like they’d won the World Series.

All day it was snow cones, cotton candy and hot dogs. Many families arrived early to stake out their turf for the day. The adults were mostly content to wile away the heat of the day beneath the shade from park trees or canopies brought for the occasion.

All the while, people talked and laughed amongst themselves — friends and canopy neighbors — while the kids did what kids do, run around.

Starting about 4 p.m., the bands started and the crowds grew by the hour. One could see the canopy dwellers enjoying the music while, guess what, the kids started games of their own. From the hill of the park concert bowl, one could watch a pick-up football game, soccer match, frisbee tossing, baseball catching and downhill rolling. All the while, nothing but laughter from kids, kids, kids.

When the sun started setting behind the hills, out came the glow sticks. A variable cornucopia of glow sticks around necks, ankles, wrists. Twirly glow sticks and glow sticks like flying saucers through the air. As the light faded, the bodies disappeared, leaving nothing but glow sticks running amok as if by magic. All the while, the laughter coming from the invisible glow stick magicians was infectious.

As if on cue, 9 o’clock hit, the band said goodnight and BOOM! Believe it or not, the park grew silent and then another BOOM, and so it went for the next 45 minutes. Except for a few oohs and aahs, all those kids were quiet. What a great way to wrap up an even greater 4th of July.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen! Especially, the kids.

— John Naughton, publisher