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The small town of
Faith is located in
eastern Rowan County.
Since 1946 the small
town has hosted a
Fourth of July
celebration with patriotic
pride. A week-long
celebration requires a
great deal of planning
by the sponsoring
organizations and community
volunteers. The Faith Fourth
of July Celebration is
sponsored by the Faith
American Legion Post
#327, the Faith American
Legion Auxiliary Unit
#327, The Faith Civitans,
and the Faith Jaycees.
The celebration has been
called one of the
biggest Fourth of July
Celebrations in the
state of North Carolina.
The town of Faith
was incorporated in 1903
and around that time
a handful of area
residents gathered to honor
their Confederate War
veterans with a picnic
and games. The Peeler
family, operators of a number
of business's in Faith,
was instrumental in
these initial get togethers
on the Fourth of
July. The Fourth
Celebrations were more
like family picnics with
few activities. A
citizen remembers the
greasy pole that proved
a challenge for one
soldier in the crowd.
Also,
races were a favorite
and a horse drawn
merry-go-round was a rather
unusual attraction.
The
Faith's Fourth of July
Celebration was originally
sanctioned by the town
government in 1920,
the sad conditions of
wars and general
economic distress intervened.
Gatherings were sporadic.
The end of World War II
brought back happier
times. The annual
celebration was revived.
Before Ray McCombs, life
long resident and active
supporter of the celebration
made a comment that
organizers received quite
a shock when twice as
any participants showed up
as were expected. It
also noted that food
quickly ran out and
Faith's cooks went to
their own kitchens to
bring more food.
Strategic planning takes
on a clear meaning
for those with the
responsibility for the
upcoming celebration.
Currently 30,000 people
attend the mile-and-a-half
parade. Most of these
stay for the day
in Faith .
The menu on the
Fourth of July that
the civic and community
volunteers prepare consists
of the following:
-
4500
pounds of barbecued
shoulders
-
5000
hot dogs
-
7000
hamburgers
-
1800
pound of country ham
-
5000
ice cream cones
-
20,000
drinks
-
2500
pounds of cabbage
for making slaw
The volunteers arrive
very early on the
morning of the fourth
to prepare the food.
Smoke fills the air
as the shoulders are
taken off the pits to be
chopped for sandwiches.
The charcoal grills are
fired up to prepare
the hamburgers and
country ham. Also,
early arrivals bring
homemade cakes and pies
to be bought for desserts.
The dedication of
community volunteers continue
to work the food
and ride/ticket booths
throughout the day of July
4th.
The day is usually
very hot and humid
with a scattered thunderstorm.
Sometimes that thunderstorm
lights up the sky with
mammoth fireworks display
which culminates the
annual Fourth of July
celebration.
Many people in Faith
are related, and it is a
family tradition to come
to the Fourth of July
celebration each year,
almost as in a family reunion.
As children grow up
and marry or move
away, many come
back for the Fourth
of July in Faith.
Former Mayor Tim
Williams says that the
Fourth of July and
Patriotism are instilled in
residents from birth.
The town decorates the
streets and their homes
with flags to show
their patriotism.
The four sponsoring
civic organizations use
the proceeds from the
Fourth of July
Celebration for scholarships,
local school needs,
local library needs,
park improvements, and
other town/community needs.
President
George Bush attended the
celebration in 1992.
Having the President of
the United States drop
by for a ballgame ( he played ),
lunch and a speech was
an all-time high for
the residents and guests
that attended in
1992.
The Fourth of July
offers an old-fashion
good time. Events during
the day include old
favorites like the sack
race, the three-legged
race and the piggy
back race. There is
also a watermelon eating
contest, a shoe
and egg toss.
All activities take
place on the Faith
American Legion Park and
Faith Elementary School
grounds. Children like
the celebration due to
the rides that come
in for a week. A
special rate for rides
set for a " Saturday
Matinee " and a
week night. Also , food and
concessions vendors come to
the celebration according
to availability of space.
The Fourth of July
Celebration Committee extends
an invitation for new
comers to check out
their celebration. The
town of Faith really
shows their true colors
of red, white and
blue each July 4th.
Submitted
by: Resident Gloria Wilhelm
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