In honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, an all-day celebration is being held in Sunset Hills on June 13.
“It’s a day of fun, family and patriotism. Not politics,” Ron Hack, committee chair and brain behind the event, said. “It is a day for our kids to remember.”
The celebration includes multiple events throughout the day on June 13, but before that, citizens can get involved in the community-wide poster contest. Between May 15 and May 30, residents from kindergarten through adulthood can submit original U.S.-themed posters to the Sunset Hills Community Center. All entries must be on 11”x17” standard flat posterboard. Posters will be judged in four categories — kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through twelfth grade and, lastly, adults — between May 31 and June 13 by the mayors of Sunset Hills and Crestwood, with the winners announced at the celebration.
“It’s really open, there’s no restrictions … Everybody who likes to draw can submit a poster,” Hack said.
The June 13 celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with a flag march from Truman Middle School to Watson Trail Park. Schools, neighborhoods, churches and business groups are encouraged to participate along with scout troops, families and elected officials. There will be a special veterans section, along with a special decorated wheels group — featuring strollers, wheelchairs, wagons, etc. — though no cars or trucks are permitted. Sign up to march at sunset-hills.com/952/250th-Anniversary-of-America. Flags will be provided for free to all participants, and prizes will be awarded to the best patriotically dressed individual, the best patriotic group and the best patriotically decorated wheeled vehicle.
Following the march, a barbecue lunch will be provided at the pavilion in Watson Trail Park. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Sunset Hills Aquatic Facility is offering free admission to individuals sporting red, white and blue, and at 8:30 p.m., a free screening of the film “1776” will be happening at the Sunset Hills Community Center.
“This is meant for our community. It was my idea. I came up to Pat (Fribis, Mayor of Sunset Hills) last year and said, ‘Why don’t we do this?’ She said, ‘Fine, why don’t you chair the committee?’ So that’s what I’ve been doing, worrying about for almost a year now,” Hack said. “I’m very enthusiastic.”
Put together by a committee of volunteers, this event is presented by the Sunset Hills Conservation Foundation. It is co-presented by multiple groups, including the Southwest Area Chamber of Commerce, the John Sappington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Spirit of St. Louis Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the city of Sunset Hills — especially the Parks Department, Hack noted — and the city of Crestwood. Event sponsors include various local businesses.
