Stars and Stripes Celebration jam-packs Americana into holiday weekend

It’s time to break out the hotdogs, fire up the grills and light the sparklers because the Fourth of July weekend is less than two weeks away. For Guttenberg and the surrounding area, there will be a plethora of exciting events taking place on Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5.

This year’s theme is “52 Things to Love About Guttenberg” to commemorate RAGBRAI’s 52nd annual ride concluding by rolling into Guttenberg on Highway 52. Members of the community are encouraged to show their hometown pride over the weekend and during the parade on Saturday evening.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The festivities start on July 4 with a performance by Triple Threat from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ingleside Park Band Shelter on River Park Drive.

Activities start bright and early on July 5, with the farmers market on the 400 block of South River Park Drive from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Firecracker Classic 5K Walk and Run registration also begins at eight in the morning. The Little Sparklers Kids Fun Run starts at 8:45, and the adults race follows at nine. The route takes participants along the city’s scenic river walk, beginning at the veterans memorial.

Entry for the 5K is $25, with proceeds supporting the city’s fireworks show.

Participants are also eligible for a “special prize” by dressing up as a “blast from the past,” according to the event’s registration site.

To register, visit https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141402. Alternatively, visit the event’s Facebook page to find registration links.

The Guttenberg Police Department will sponsor a Bike Rodeo, which begins at 10 a.m. This year, prizes will include two scooters and two bicycles, and each participant will receive a bike helmet.

At 11 a.m., parade decorating stations will be open to the public.

The city’s fire department will sponsor water activities starting at 2 p.m., and visitors can expect food, music and other activities to ensue at three. DJ entertainment, a beverage truck from Olive or Twist, 50/50 raffles, face painting, bingo and more will fill out the day’s schedule.

Before the parade begins, a watermelon-eating contest open to all ages will take place at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s frivolity continues with the parade along River Park Drive. Participants in the parade will begin lining up behind Meuser Lumber at 6, with the parade beginning an hour later.

Following the parade, the Clayton Ridge Drill Team and Star Power Dance Team will perform in front of the veterans memorial.

The day concludes with fireworks over the river at dusk.

The Stars and Stripes River Celebration is sponsored by the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce.

Grand Marshal

While the crowds are bustling, the parade is going and families are partaking in Saturday's activities, Diane Schilling will serve as the Star and Stripes event's grand marshal.

Schilling moved to Guttenberg in 1997 after spending 30 years in Colesburg and working as an elementary school secretary for 35 years.

Schilling was chosen for the mantle due to her voluminous amount of volunteer work in the community.

"It was a total surprise," she said. "I was both surprised and humbled."

Schilling has volunteered for many organizations, including the Family Resource Center, mobile food pantry and Umbrella Arts Creativity Center. But a list of names can't do justice to the time Schilling and others invest in bettering their city.

"I think volunteerism builds communities. I encourage everyone to volunteer; I get way more out of it than I give," she said.

She added that Guttenberg has a multitude of opportunities for volunteerism.

"There are a lot of generous people here," she said. "It's an easy place to get involved, and it's a great way to meet people. Big things happen here that are started by volunteers."

The Stars and Stripes is an important event for Guttenberg because it gives the community a chance to show pride and gather together with their neighbors.

"It's patriotism. It shows that we're American, and as a community, we honor that," said Schilling. "It's good fellowship. The park will be filled with people."

The Fourth of July event is also about passing down those values to the next generation. Schilling wants Guttenberg's youth to be proud of where they came from.

"If we don't have the young people involved, then we don't have much of a future," she added.

Super Senior

Along with a grand marshal, the Stars and Stripes event will also have a super senior.

Al Troester, 87, was born in Guttenberg in 1937. Although he has spent most of his life in Iowa, he has seen some of the far corners of the Earth (including Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines) while serving in the U.S. Navy for six years starting when he was 21.

Troester worked for several businesses, including Hilton Mobile Homes and grocery stores, before retiring in 2019.

Now, he volunteers three days a week at the food shelf at the Family Resource Center and at the Eagles Club. He also serves on the city’s planning and zoning commission and as the chair for the board of adjustments.

Even though he has assumed the super senior mantle this year, he has already worked with the parade for three years as part of the Knights of Columbus.

“I’m usually stationed at the head of the parade with the Knights,” he said.

Troester added that events like the Stars and Stripes are emblematic of small-town pride and are beneficial for the community.

“It helps the city,” he said. “It gets people together and shows them what a small town can do. We have the fire department and other people to help — it’s a big day.”

Troester said it’s important to get children involved in community activities because “if they aren’t involved, they won’t get involved later.”

And what is his favorite part of the day?

“All of the people getting together and watching the kids grab for the candy,” he said.