By MELISSA MOODY
In the nearly 100 years since its founding, the Sellersburg American Legion Post has gone from a single room above Lowell Smith’s Grocery store in 1919 to a 16,000-square-foot facility with rental halls, a barn, a patio and a shelter house. And Post Commander Ron Sweeney and his wife, Michelle, supply no shortage of patriotism to the place.
“Our post went from a hole in the ground to the Taj Mahal,” Michelle said. “We have a beautiful memorial wall where anyone that has a family member in the service can buy a brick.
“And of course, we have a huge, beautiful flag.”
And that flag will come in handy Friday, because the Sellersburg American Legion Post throws one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in Clark County. Michelle couldn’t give an exact date of when the parade first began, but “it’s been going on as long as I can remember,” she said.
“This is our day to shine and we really do shine, she said, tears welling in her eyes. “My dad was a veteran when I got involved. There’s so many veterans down there that served our country, and they deserve a big slap on the back.
“That is what the Fourth of July is all about.”
Local residents will be able to celebrate the United States’ independence — and the veterans — with a parade, live music, food, a cake wheel and a fireworks show. The parade begins at 2 p.m., and about 40 floats are participating, in addition to the “usual folks that always come from Pekin,” Michelle said. “That’s why we start at 2 p.m., so the Pekin folks can finish their parade.
“They have the oldest celebration in the United States.”
But Sellersburg is giving them a run for the money. The post’s parade and day-long celebration may not be the oldest, but it is beloved by residents that cherish the opportunity to celebrate with friends and family. Sellersburg residents donate most of the money for the fireworks show — it’s practically considered a civic duty to contribute.
“Everybody just always plans on donating to the fireworks every year,” Michelle said.
The town board also donates money to the show.
Games and prizes will be going on all day for kids, and food will be offered by the Ladies Auxiliary inside the post. Music by Hard-core Country will begin at 7 p.m., with a break at dusk for the fireworks, and then the music will resume into the evening.
The Sweeney’s pour their hearts into preparations for the celebration, and it shows.
“Me and my husband’s daughter are pretty much running the show,” Michelle said. “We just believe in this place, and we believe in the people.”
And that is what the Fourth of July is all about.
