Small North Dakota city bursts with patriotism

About 1,400 people live in Park River, a tiny city in North Dakota, about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. But every year on July Fourth, the city’s streets are overflowing with people — and patriotism — as more than 10,000 gather to thank veterans and celebrate freedom.

American Legion Post 147 in Park River leads the annual parade, which covers most of the city’s 2.17 square miles. This year, American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt led a Legion Family delegation on an awareness walk at the front of the parade.

“The parade was awesome; it’s the celebration of our independence, the Fourth of July,” Schmidt said. “This community has been inspired by the American Legion Family here. It’s awesome to walk down the main street of this town and see both sides of the sidewalk lined with people. And when the honor guard went by, everybody stood, everybody removed their hats and everybody put their hands over their hearts in respect for the flag of the United States of America.”

Park River’s motto is the “Town With a Heart.” Its heart beats red, white and blue, especially on Independence Day.

“It was awesome to see the red, white and blue as we went through the residential area, the flags flying on the front porches and in the front yards,” Schmidt noted. “Very patriotic. There are proud Americans here.”

The city has held the parade since 1919 except during World War II, said Dan Stenvold, Park River mayor and a member of Post 147.

Parade participants and onlookers come from throughout the state, as well as Minnesota, South Dakota and even Canada.

“We’re known as a destination community for the Fourth of July,” said Stenvold, who moved to Park River in 1973. “People are always amazed at how many marchers show up and how many entries we have in our parade. We say it’s an old-fashioned parade — come early, stay late and leave with a smile.”

Over the years, the parade has grown. Now, it takes a full two hours for the final marchers, cars, antique tractors and other participants to finish.

“They treat you great up here,” said Bob Krause, the National Executive Committeeman from North Dakota. “The biggest change I’ve seen in the past eight years is the size of the parade. The number of units and the number of people. To me, it’s amazing to see the streets lined with people for two miles. It’s a great experience. It’s just a great community event.”

Immediately after the parade, the Sons of The American Legion at Post 147 put on a barbecue.

“This is a community event and not just this community but other communities in the area,” Krause said. “The Sons and the Auxiliary all chip in. The Sons are doing this great barbecue. The Auxiliary is here, helping inside (at the post). They are involved as part of the Legion Family.

“To me this is the epitome of small town America. This is what it is all about.”

Department of North Dakota Commander Karen Meier visited Park River for the first time on July Fourth. She sees the teamwork by the Park River Legion Family as something that other posts, squadrons and units can embrace.

“Get everybody involved,” advised Meier, a member of Post 49 in Garrison. “Get the community involved and get the word out about what you are doing and what’s happening in your communities.”

As the parade neared its conclusion, Schmidt, Meier and other Legion Family representatives greeted residents of a senior citizens home who emerged from the building to see the parade.

“As the colors went by, a lady in a wheelchair got up to pay respect to the flag,” Schmidt said. “We had an opportunity to shake hands with many of the residents. And many of them said, ‘Thank you,’ for serving our country and for being in the parade. They were so appreciative.”

Schmidt sees the virtues of the July Fourth celebration also resonating with younger Americans. He recalled a participant at Nevada Boys State who recently asked him: Where is America going?

“As I walked down the main street today, I wish that young man could have been with me to see America,” Schmidt said. “I grew up in a small town and a lot of good things happen in small towns. Don’t count them out. And, as I told the young man at Boys State in Nevada, don’t give up on America. Patriotism is alive and I believe the majority of Americans still believe in patriotism and are honored to live in the United States of America.”

Like many rural communities, Park River — surrounded by vast fields of potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn and other crops — is home to agriculture. It’s also home to patriotism, honor and community.

Elsewhere across the nation, questions may arise about the direction of the country and whether patriotism still exists.

“I think they certainly answered that today in Park River, North Dakota,” Schmidt said. “Patriotism is still alive in America.”