GACKLE 4th of July 2011
The Jamestown Sun, ND
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
By: Ben Rodgers
Little ol' Gackle, N.D., attracts folks from afar for small-town Fourth of July celebration
GACKLE, N.D. — Julie Schlecht traveled more than 1,800 miles to see her nephew launch water balloons into the crowds on the streets here Monday.
All ages filled the sidewalk of Main Street as a community came together to celebrate Independence Day.
For Schlecht, a Gackle native, the trip included the possibility of a quick water balloon soak — which would have felt refreshing as temperatures climbed in the 90s.
"It’s a smaller town and I think it’d be a great town to live in," she said as she stepped out of the path of a balloon hurled from a four wheeler.
Many of those on the street made the trek to Gackle to see the festivities, try their hand at bingo or have a free supper in the park.
"This is America, it’s all about kids’ parades, ice cream and watermelon at the park," said Eldon Hanson, Fort Ransom, N.D.
Eldon and his wife Priscilla have made the trip here for a few years, and they said they enjoy seeing the town and the people.
"This is the part of the country where people wave at you and they don’t know who you are," he said.
For some, the parade and the celebration around it is a family affair.
Scott and Tessa Otto, Jamestown, journeyed here with kids who were looking to stuff their bags with candy thrown from the passing vehicles amid blaring horns and sirens.
"It reminds me of being here when I was little," Scott said.
Eileen Ketterling came from Wishek and had her chair on Main Street outside of the shade and in the sweltering heat.
"I like to be in the small towns on the Fourth of July," Ketterling said.
Gackle residents Elmer Batsch and Clifford Gumke looked on as the vehicles rolled past of the children who scurried after Totsie Pops and Dots.
"You see a pretty good crowd for a small town," Batsch said.
The intense temperatures didn’t faze the men as they looked on in jeans and long-sleeved shirts.
"If I can sit in the sun to fish, I can sit in the sun to watch a parade," Gumke said.
Two blocks down on the same street in the shade Lydia Lunzman, her daughter Joanne Lunzman and her great-grandchildren took in the events from the same spot they’ve had for years.
While the Fourth of July is a day parades and fireworks, Lydia said she sees a reminder of her brother Arnie Bellikka, who died in World War II.
"No. 1 is we live in freedom," Joanne said.
"And that’s what my brother died for," Lydia said, finishing the thought.