Prattville celebrated Independence Day with a Hometown Heroes parade that honored utility lineworkers for “their hard work, dedication and selflessness” during restorations from recent storms, including the EF1 tornado that hit the city in May.
Linemen from Alabama Power and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative were grand marshals for the parade, which traveled through downtown from the Autauga County Courthouse to Pratt Park on Saturday morning, July 3. Officials held the parade Saturday because July 4 fell on Sunday this year.
“Us and Central Alabama Electric are being honored for our participation and our hard work that we put in over all the storms we’ve had in the past year,” said Alabama Power Local Operations Lineman Doyle Martin. “It’s nice to be recognized for what we look at as just our job.”
Prattville Independence Day parade honors lineworkers from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Mayor Bill Gillespie cited the linemen’s work after the tornado that roared through the eastern part of the city on May 4, causing significant damage but no injuries.
“Recently, we had an EF1 that came through. A lot of power was out. If it had not been for their dedication, the city of Prattville would have suffered quite a bit,” Gillespie said.
The city canceled the Independence Day parade in 2020 due to COVID-19, which meant residents were more than ready to celebrate the 2021 July Fourth holiday, the mayor said.
“It’s very important because we’re social animals and we know how important our freedoms are,” Gillespie told WSFA-TV. “If you look at some of the lines and some of the people over here and the great parade that we had, I think everybody is really welcoming this celebration today. I think it’s needed, and it’s going on really great here in Prattville.”
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power lineworkers were among those honored at the Hometown Heroes parade in Prattville. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie speaks at the city’s Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Alex Walker Band preforms at Prattville’s Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Scenes from Prattville’s Hometown Heroes parade and Independence Day celebration. (Billy Brown / Alabama NewsCenter)
Pratt Park was the site for a Lions Club barbecue, arts and crafts and live music by the Alex Walker Band. Pratt Pool and Splash Pad were open for family fun. Saturday evening, Souled Out Groove performed at Pratt Park Amphitheater.
The weekend’s grand finale was the launch of fireworks near the Clock Tower at Legends Circle at dark on July 4.
