The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the Co-Grand Marshal’s and Honored Citizens for the 2016 Independence Day Parade in Friday Harbor. In keeping with the theme “America the Beautiful…100 Years of National Parks!”, the Grand Marshals will be Mike Vouri, representing the Parks Past and History, and newly appointed National Park Superintendent Elexis Fredy, representing the Park’s future. The National Park Service (NPS) turns 100 years of age in 2016 and San Juan Island is excited to be able to honor these special individuals. The Chamber of Commerce is also proud to announce a special parade tribute, the 2016 “Citizens of Honor”, who are chosen for their outstanding community contributions. This year’s inaugural selections are Gerry and Sonnie King.

The NPS announced that it will kick off a new century of conservation, recreation and preservation across the United States during these second hundred years. Grand Marshal Mike Vouri, a former NPS interpreter regularly performed his historical reenactment of the life of General George Pickett, and is closely tied to the first hundred years of the Park Service history on San Juan Island. Grand Marshal Elexis Fredy, who became Superintendent of San Juan Island Historical Park in early 2016, is looking forward to fostering a second century of stewardship and engagement that focuses on youth, diversity, climate change, and collaborative partnerships.

The King’s involvement in the Friday Harbor community includes Gerry’s work for his Uncle Lyle King at Kings Market, and participation in island real estate and commercial fishing. While raising a family of four, Sonnie established her town store, Kings Toggery, and brought the Chamber of Commerce back to Friday Harbor that included reviving the 4th of July Parade in the early 1970’s.

The parade which will start at 10:30 a.m. on July 4th will proceed down historic Spring Street through downtown Friday Harbor. More details will be forthcoming over the next several weeks, and we encourage all of those interested to begin work on their themed entries. For additional information about participating in the 2016 Friday Harbor Independence Day Parade, please email parade@sanjuanisland.org or call Traci Wilson, Parade Coordinator at 360-298-7760 or 206-914-7940.