Hinckley holds its second annual Independence Day parade

HINCKLEY TWP. — Community members came together Friday to watch an Independence Day parade which featured kids on red, white and blue bikes, tractors and emergency vehicles. Trustee Monique Ascherl said it is the township's second time holding the parade, which went from Hinckley Elementary School to Hinckley Preparatory Academy. The parade is held in partnership with the township and the academy, and there were refreshments and games at the school after the event. "This is our celebratory parade," she said. "This is something that we wanted to build excitement over for the kids in the community, since Memorial Day is more of a solemn event. This was meant as a fun community gathering for everybody." Ascherl described it as a "fun day" and said it was a nice way to start the Fourth of July holiday before people go home and celebrate with their family. "I hope that it brings people together more as a community and meet their neighbors," she said. "I think these days, everybody's so busy between work and sports, myself included. I think we forget to really sit down and connect with our neighbors and our community." Hinckley also launched a military banner program this year, Ascherl said. The banners have the name and photo of local veterans who are either current or former Hinckley residents, and they are placed in different spots in the center of town. There were 30 applications for this year's program, and a donor paid for all of the banners to be created, she said. "(Veterans) are why we have freedom, and that's why we're celebrating this day." Ascherl said. "That's why we celebrate Memorial Day as well. We would not be the country that we are without our veterans and our heroes." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.