Friday Harbor rocked it to the red white and blue July 4th, with another day full of celebrations that could not be beat. Onlookers watched as a befuddled pig, the Husky UW marching band, Tiger football players, horses, sheep, swing dancers, pirates and so much more, marched by.

The Grand Marshal and Honored Citizen and Sam R Buck Award winners this year were Steve McMurtrie with Jerry Alhadeff as the Sam R Buck Award winner. These men are committed to service and have made so many contributions to our island.

Steve McMurtrie moved to the island with his family in 1988. A man of many trades from carpentry to concrete work to driving for Brown Lumber, he eventually started his family business of Kingdom Care and became well known in the community at the Port of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor Marina. As McMurtrie’s commitment to service with the Lions, he continued to volunteer. Eventually with that white beard, he became one of Santa’s representatives for the island. McMurtrie’s special role in December every year has made him a well-known figure during the month – he has listened to thousands of children over the years and posed for the children’s annual photo opportunity at King’s, the Island Lights Festival, the Old Fashioned Christmas Market and the Block Party at Roche Harbor.

Alhadeff received the Sam R Buck Community Award at the Chamber’s Spring Luncheon where he was honored for his commitment to our community. Alhadeff was a businessman from Seattle and met Sam R Buck in 1970, and bought property on the island after that. Over the years Alhadeff developed a business relationship with Brian Brown from San Juan County Bank. Brown was instrumental in asking Aldadeff to purchase the Palace Theater in 1982 (then called the Royal Theater). The Alhadeff Family has continued to provide the community with the theater for the past 40 years.

Galt Sr was also nominated as Grand Marshal but sadly passed away shortly before the parade. Galt Sr. has been involved in the Masonic Lodge and the Lions and has been a leader in being a “creator” in the community. In 1982 Galt Sr. started the Friday Harbor Athletic Association, with the goal of helping our youth with community sports activities. Don helped the Mullis Community Center with getting the parking lot and the landscaping completed by getting the donations needed and there himself many weekends doing the work himself. Most recently Galt Sr. was responsible for designing, developing and completing several community sports fields and associated buildings, now called the John Linde Fields.

The parade winners were as follows:

Best use of theme, float- Pirates

Best use of theme, non-float-Calvary San Juan

Best use of theme, youth-YAAS

Best Costume Vehicle-Textile Guild

Best Animal Group-East Kin Farm

Best costumed Group-BooBoo’s Boxing

Best Vehicle-Masonic Lodge

Judges Coice-Top of the Town

In the evening, the sky over the harbor was lit up with fireworks.