Good old-fashioned patriotism was alive and well in Atlanta Saturday afternoon as a huge crowd of city residents turned out for the annual Fourth of July parade.
The flag-waving, float-cheering crowd made its preferences rapidly known. Loud cheers and applause greeted the parade grand marshal, former President Jimmy Carter. Military salutes and shouts of appreciation greeted former Iranian hostage Col. Charles Scott of Stone Mountain.
Former Veterans Administration head Max Cleland got the thumbs up. "Give 'em hell, Max," one man yelled.
The stars were the stars of the parade. Both Ron Glass of the television series "Barney Miller" and Robert Guillaume of the "Benson" series, were swamped by autograph hunters whenever their cars slowed.
Local politicians turned out in full force. All of Atlanta's mayoral candidates walked, jogged or ran the entire parade route.
DeKalb County Commission Chairman Manuel Maloof waved to the throngs of spectators from the back seat of an open car. "It's a helluva crowded," Maloof said. "It feels good to be here."
There were other parades and celebrations in the Atlanta area Saturday.
The Blue Angels, the Navy's precision flying team, performed their high-speed maneuvers in jets over the Marietta Naval Air Station and will repeat the spectacle Sunday. A giant fireworks display was planned at Lenox Square and Stone Mountain Saturday night.
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