Hammond celebrated Independence Day starting with the ceremonial raising of a huge national flag early in the morning and ending with a community celebration in Zemurray Park.
Games, activities, food booths and a fireworks display were part of the day's salute to the nation’s birthday.
Members of the Hammond Fire Department and veterans of the nation’s military services hoisted the flag early in the morning at the tall flagpole located near Hammond Square Mall. The flag raising ceremony was sponsored by the Hammond-Ponchatoula Sunrise Rotary Club. The club has sponsored the flag raising ceremony for the past eight years.
A new American flag measuring 20 by 30 feet was raised up the 80-foot flagpole to the cheers and clapping of a large group gathered around the pole on a warm, muggy morning.
The Rotary Club dedicated the flagpole on July 4, 2016, and it has been a landmark in the area since.
Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller offered a tribute to the nation’s founders in remarks just before the flag was raised. Miller reminded his audience that despite challenges to the nation over its almost 250-year existence, the United States still stands as a beacon of hope to residents around the world.
“Because of the great nation that has been built over all these many years people from all over the world want to come here. As citizens of the United States we enjoy freedoms that so many others around the world do not enjoy. We are thankful today for all those who came before us starting with the signers of the Declaration of Independence and passing through the years since that historic day,” the mayor said.
Lalcy Landrum, representing the Hammond-Ponchatoula Sunrise Rotary Club traced the history of the flag and what it has come to symbolize to the community. She introduced a group of Cub and Boy Scouts who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The day’s observance resumed at 6 p.m. when the party started in Zemurray Park. The most popular attraction in the park was the miniature train that has been chugging around the park on special occasions for about 70 years.
Children were invited to expend some energy in four inflatables available on the grounds.
Following the advice offered by John Adams 248 years ago, festival goers enjoyed the most important treat of the day, viewing what Adams called “luminaries” — fireworks that sparkled and boomed in the nighttime sky. The finale to the long day of observances of the nation’s birthday brought together several thousand who reveled in the opportunity to enjoy another Fourth of July.