Fourth of July events continue, pancake breakfast postponed

Editor’s Note: This story is current as of Tuesday afternoon, but with the ever-changing nature of cancellations due to COVID-19, the events may be subject to change. Check The Graham Leader social media for up to date event news.

Three of the four annual Independence Day events will be ongoing in Graham despite a rise in COVID-19 cases in Young County. The Kiwanis Club of Graham Pancake Breakfast was the sole event which was postponed to the Fall.

The pancake breakfast was set to kickoff a full day of events in Graham on Saturday, July 4. The Kiwanis Club made an announcement Monday that they will be postponing their annual event due to COVID-19 concerns.

“With everything that has been happening, with the pandemic over the last few days and weeks, we feel that it’s in the best interest of our club and community to postpone our event until the fall,” the club wrote on their Facebook page. “If you have already purchased tickets please know that we will gladly accept those tickets at our fall event.”

The day of events will now start with Independence Day honors at the Young County Courthouse gazebo at 9 a.m. Honored on the courthouse lawn will be Suzi Wolfe (U.S. Navy), Gordon Nees (U.S. Army), Linda Mueggenborg (U.S. Navy) and Justin Pitcock (U.S. Marine). There will also be an unveiling of new names added to the New Century Veterans Memorial Wall.

Names added to the wall will be Lance Eric Martin and Antonio Ramirez III for service post Jan. 1, 2001 and Robert Eugene Brown, Jerry Thomas Jackson and Charles Franklin Bramlet for service pre Jan. 1, 2001.

Following the honors will be the annual Independence Day Parade around the Graham downtown square at 10:30 a.m. During the parade and honors will be the Graham Chamber of Commerce’s Chalk the Walk event in which competitors will draw chalk images on the sidewalk to the courthouse for a chance to win multiple prizes. The winners for the event will be announced at 11 a.m.

The day will end with the Graham Soccer Association Fourth at the Fields event at the Young County Arena. The food, vendors and activities which annually happen during the event will not be present. Entry to the event this year will be free of charge.