No July 4 celebration is complete without a parade and to help bring to the community together to commemorate America's independence, the public is invited to a local holiday parade.
Organized by the Fordville Neighborhood Watch, the parade is set for 11 a.m. on July 4.
The route will roll along Martin Luther King Jr., starting at East Hillsboro/Junction City Road and heading north to the Union County Fairgrounds at the intersection of MLK and 19th Street.
Parade entrants will begin lining up at 9:45 a.m. in the area of MLK and Hillsboro.
An Independence Day gospel music concert will follow at 5 p.m. in Mosby Park.
Admission for the concert is free. A concession stand will sell hot dogs, snacks, sodas and water.
FNW member and local pastor LaDebra Van Hook, of New Jerusalem Christian Ministry, 1400 N. Gray, approached the El Dorado City Council on May 12 to request permission to block off a city street for the parade and to help with the concert.
Van Hook told council members then that the July 4 activities are among several ideas that have been discussed and planned by the FNW group for its "Unity in the Community" initiative.
Proceeds from parade entry fees and concession stand sales from the concert will go toward FNW coffers to help organize summer and fall activities for area youth, Van Hook.
The activities are part of an effort by the FNW to help improve the neighborhood by curbing crime and working with the city to improve streets and other municipal infrastructure and to beautify the area.
"Ward 1 has had a lot of crime, a lot of shootings, drug dealing and whatever else. It's really a hot spot," Van Hook said.
"A lot of people know what's going on but a lot of people are afraid to speak, afraid to talk, but if we don't communicate as a people, we're never going to solve the problems that we face in this community," she continued.
Van Hook said the FNW would also like to work with the El Dorado Police Department.
Council Member Dianne Hammond asked if the group had spoken with EPD Chief Kenny Hickman and when Van Hook replied that the EPD was aware of the issues, Hammond contended, "Well, they need the specifics of what's going on."
To help instill neighborhood pride and honor America's founding, Van Hook said the FNW came up with the idea for a parade and concert.
Ward 1 Council Member Avo Vartenian said he had spoken with Van Hook about the idea and had learned more about plans by FNW.
"She was actually wanting to a demonstration, a celebration of the community and actually invite the whole community," Vartenian said.
"Even the gospel concert she was talking about at Mosby Park... she's putting in most of the legwork to do most of the work," he continued. "And she's just asking for assistance with putting up bleachers and security because she wants to make sure it's a safe event and that the city would help make it a safe event."
Anyone in the community, as well as other churches, are welcome to assist, he said.
Vartenian also reiterated that proceeds are going back into the community to "give the kids something to do."
Council members enthusiastically voted in favor of the parade and concert, per a motion by Council Member Paul Choate, who commended Van Hook for her efforts.
"It's so refreshing to have someone like you to come before our council to solve a problem and to endear the community and promote the community on a celebration like the Fourth of July. This is very important and I applaud you for this," said Council Member Judy
While speaking to a New-Times reporter later, Van Hook said the aim of the FNW is to "get people excited about where they live."
"The parade is basically to bring the community together to say that we can do something good in this neighborhood," she explained.
Van Hook said the parade and gospel music concert are also avenues to highlight the true meaning of the Fourth of July.
"We think it means one thing and ... it's actually America's birthday," said.
"I still believe we're the greatest country in this world because we do have liberties and we do have freedoms -- freedom of speech, freedom of worship --, whereas in other countries, people are not free to do certain things," Van Hook said.
For more information, call Van Hook at 870-814-3926 or Larry Woods at 870-814-8655.