Old-Fashioned Celebration

By CHERYL JENSEN

The Progress

Bunkerville had an old-fashioned hometown Independence Day celebration on Monday, July 4th in the Bunkerville Park.

The festivities starting off early with a 5K run. That was followed by a pancake breakfast, a patriotic program and foot races on the grass in the park.

In many ways, it was like a family reunion with a lot of people who had grown up in Bunkerville returning to their hometown for the holiday. Many wore their Bunkerville T-shirts that celebrate the fourth of July with many other wearing red, white and blue.

The flagraising was held with a stirring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by Shaye Whipple. A trio of men including Hans Gardner, Walter Dalton, and Alex Brotherson sang “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies.”

Addie Condie told the story of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” saying it is an anthem and a prayer. She suggested that we need the Light from above for our nation. She then led the audience in singing this beloved song.

The story of Nathan Hale, the 21 year old school teacher who said, “I regret that I only have one life to give for my country” was told by Kenyon Leavitt.
“Our history has many examples of such patriots for whom freedom is more precious than life,” Leavitt said. “We honor those that made sacrifices to establish our nation.”

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was sung by a group of young children. As they sang, they used sign language in the chorus. The audience then joined in singing the other verses.

The 5K run started at 6:00 a.m. with runners setting off from the park and racing through a course past the church, school and ending at the library finish line. There they were cheered on by the crowd and times were recorded.

Owen Rappley was the overall winner with a time of 21.14. Jenna Walters following him close behind.
Ammon Averett won the boys age 10 division. In the 11-14 age group Trayin Hughes was 1st with Krae Griffiths 2nd and Kalen Jensen 3rd. Girls were Ave Noel, Raia Davis and Kyra Jensen. The 15-25 age group had Elder Rasmussen and Elder Kingrey winning and Riley Averett in 3rd. The girls were Jenna Walter 1st, Tylie Teerlink 2nd and Ari Gardner 3rd. In age group 26-39 Clancy Leavitt won with Skyler Gleave 2nd and Danny Bonnie 3rd. Emily Gleave came in first with Megan Teerlink 2nd and Katie Johnson 3rd. Adam Anderson came in first in the 40-49 age group with John Clark 2nd. Mindy Hughes was first for the women followed by Jolene Averett. Don Rappley was first in his age division and Hans Gardner was first in his division.

The races on the greens of the park were a special event starting with the babies crawling race and progressing by age group up to age 12. Each group started on the next white line back and were cheered on by enthusiastic parents and grandparents. Each child received a treat for racing.

Raffle tickets were purchased to get a chance to win one of many of the new bicycles donated thanks to Marylin Kirkpatrick, Clark County Commissioner. Names were drawn and there were many excited children that received bicycles.

Decorations and streamers were passed out to the children so they could decorate their bikes for the evening bike parade which started at 7:30 from the church parking lot.