Worth Knowing

COMMENTARY

From humble beginnings came Georgia’s largest parade

WORTH KNOWING

BY CAROL NIEMI

16 at the time, is the only living participant I could find. What follows is basically his story.

When President Gerald Ford declared 1976 a national year-long celebration to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, committees formed throughout the country to plan celebrations. After the political turmoil of the 1960s, Watergate and the Vietnam War, Americans were ready to celebrate.

In the spring of 1976, the Dunwoody Woman’s Club formed a committee led by Gerry Spruill to figure out how Dunwoody would celebrate the year. When someone suggested a 4th of July parade, DWC member Lois Kroeger eagerly volunteered to lead the effort, and she and her husband, Harlan, became the parade co-organizers. She was a retired Northwest Airlines flight attendant. He co-owned a wholesale furniture company and traveled a lot. Neither had ever planned a parade, and neither had Dunwoody, which was still 32 years away from cityhood. Many thought it couldn’t be done. And the Kroegers had but a few months to re-create an all-American parade like the ones they loved growing up in the Midwest. As Steve remembers, they turned to neighbors, friends and family to help to recruit local businesses, churches and civic organizations. What they lacked in experience, they made up for with enthusiasm. “My parents were very patriotic,” said Steve. “They were in high school during World War II, when everyone was united. They were raised to appreciate our freedoms and knew many people who had served and many casualties.”

Read the full story online at reporternewspapers.net. Carol Niemi is a marketing consultant who lives on the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs line and writes about people whose lives inspire others. Contact her at worthknowingnow@ gmail.com.

Dunwoody’s 4th of July parade is the largest Independence Day parade in GeorCarol Niemi is a marketing consultant who lives on the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs line and writes about people whose lives inspire others. Contact her at worthknowingnow@gmail.com. gia. Except for 2020, when COVID canceled it, cheering fans have lined both sides of its 2.7-mile route along Mt. Ver- Congratulationsnon Road every year for the past 30 years. In 2019, it attracted more than 2,500 participants and 35,000 spectators from far and wide — all united as Americans to Carol Niemi is a marketing consultant who lives on the DunwoodySandy Springs line and writes about people whose lives inspire Class of 2021 others. Contact her at worthknowingnow@gmail.com. At St. Martin’s, we celebrate the journey of growing up – from the formative preschool years to graduating young adults. Congratulations Class of 2021 on your outstanding high school acceptances! 3110-A Ashford Dunwoody Rd. Brookhaven, GA 30319

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Lois Kroeger with her husband, Harlan, who organized the very first Dunwoody 4th of July parade in 1976 to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial. celebrate living in the freest country on the planet.

But a recent conversation with Steve Kroeger, whose parents organized the first parade back in 1976, revealed the parade’s surprisingly humble beginnings. Since most of the key players have either passed away or moved away, Steve, who was only