Nature smiles on Dale City parade

Dr. Terry Horn and his wife are celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary this Fourth of July weekend.

He said he normally doesn't do much over the holiday, but his wife wasn't feeling well on Satur-day.

"She said to put the costume on anyway and hit the parade route, so here I am," said Horn.

Walking up and down Dale Boulevard among the hundreds of spectators, Horn might have been the most spirited one there.

Dressed in red, white and blue, he donned an impressive top coat and hat, complete with bow tie. In all respects, he was Uncle Sam.

"I tried to walk in the parade, but I missed the entry deadline. So I am out here today walking on the side of the parade route," said Horn.

The Dumfries resident said the persona is one he is comfortable playing, as he plays Uncle Sam on a religious Web-based television show geared toward children,  "Terry TV."

The annual parade is billed as one of the largest in the state, and comes complete with fire trucks from the Dale City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, horses and squad cars from The Prince William County Police Department, members from the local Lions Club and Red Cross, just to name a few.

The humidity-free weather also played a big role in this year's parade. With temperatures in the upper 70s, it was a big departure from previous years, when 90-degree heat forced paradegoers to sweat it out.

Prince William County Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, said that more people attended because of the nice weather.

"There is an attitude of change among the people that has made them more participatory in their government, more now than ever before," said Jenkins.

Where the parade route ended, the lines to get summertime treats began. Families were greeted with goodies such as hamburgers, hot dogs, lemonade and snow cones.

The jubilant feelings carried over even to the politicians' booths,

representing both the Republican and Democratic candidates vying for a home in the Virginia governor's mansion later this year.

Both sat next to each other, and one booth worker commented, "We're playing nicely to-gether."

Most of the parade festivities were geared toward children.

"It's good to see the young people out and more involved in the parade this year," said Prince William Sheriff Glendell Hill.

Hill's department works closely with children as part of their "Ident-A-Child" program, which provides parents identification cards, complete with a photo, thumbprint and other pertinent information, in the event the child is missing.

Two children who were enjoying the parade with their father said it was the simple things that kept them enter-tained.

"I liked all of the floats," said 7-year-old Katherine as she ate a snow cone.

Her brother, 8-year-old Jonathan, said he liked all of the motorcycles in the parade and someday would like to ride one.

Dad quickly interjected, "Probably not anytime soon."

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.