Remembering Fred Bradbury on the 4th
By Terry Murry on Friday, June 30th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
PENDLETON – The grand marshal for the 2023 Pendleton Fourth of July Parade is Fred Bradbury, the driving force behind the parade. He died, at the age of 80, just four days after last year’s parade.
“It’s a challenge to take off from scratch with somebody that’s just kind of unexpectedly not with you to help and hold your hand,” Johnny Blagg of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Let ’er Buck Post 922 said. “There’s a little bit of sweet sorrow.”
The parade will begin at Pendleton City Hall, cross over on South Main Street, and proceed down Southwest Court Avenue to the Pendleton Convention Center. It’s not too late to sign up. Blagg said that application forms are at the Chamber of Commerce and available by email to vfw922@gmail.com.
Horses will stage in the Western Auto parking lot, and Blagg said people will get lined up for the parade on Southwest Dorion Avenue at around 9 a.m. The parade starts at 10 a.m.
Pendleton’s Fourth of July celebration actually begins the night before. There will be fireworks Monday night at 10 p.m. on the land beside Walmart and visible throughout the city. The fireworks are the day before Independence Day for the second year. With fewer pyrotechnicians and slow fundraising, the organizers were not able to schedule the display for the Fourth of July.
Following the parade on Tuesday, there’s a family fun celebration in Roy Raley Park adjacent to the Round-Up Grounds that goes until 5 p.m. Face painting, games, and other activities are planned.
