By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Monday was a momentous day in the City of Prattville as thousands of area residents came out in the morning to celebrate July 4th and also to enjoy the city’s annual parade, the Prattville Lions Club BBQ and Raffle and the much-anticipated cardboard boat races.
The annual parade included the Prattville Fire Department, the Prattville Police Department, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Department, softball champs, local politicians, kids riding bikes, girls twirling batons, classic cars and a whole lot of other fun people doing fun things.
After the parade, Prattville citizens walked over to Pratt Park to enjoy a bar-b-que, which was a fundraiser for Prattville Lions Club, a raffle, patriotic music, food and merchandise vendors and for kids who just got too hot, the Splash Pad.
Not long after the festivities began in the park, the Pratt Pool began to buzz with activity as multiple teams got together to create cardboard boats and attempt to race them for trophies. We will have a separate story on that GREAT event!
All in all, Monday was a great day for folks to celebrate the holiday and fellowship with others in a fun and friendly environment.
Prattville Honors 100-Year-Old Veteran as Grand Marshal at 4th of July Festivities
The City of Prattville had a theme for the Parade this year as “Hometown Heroes.” Few would argue, their choice as the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade was on point, and the perfect choice.
In appreciation for his service, Colonel Harold Howell served as Grand Marshal at the Independence Day Parade. Colonel Howell was a Torpedoman 3rd Class on the USS Wilson and USS Gregory in the Navy during WWII.
He survived two kamikaze attacks and was awarded the Purple Heart. When World War II ended, he lived in San Francisco with his wife and finished his undergraduate studies. He later moved to Tuscaloosa to obtain a law degree. After receiving his law degree, he moved to Birmingham and worked until enlisting with the Air Force as a staff judge advocate.
Colonel Howell was in the Navy for three years, the Air National Guard for five years and had a 20-year career in the Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force as a Staff Judge Advocate Civil Air Patrol in Montgomery, he moved to Prattville and joined his son’s law practice Howell Sarto and Howell. He currently lives in Prattville and turned 100 years old in January of this year.
See more photos from the parade and barbecue below!
