With the birds chirping and the sun shining, it seemed Mother Nature herself saw fit to attend the inaugural America on Main Street festival held in downtown El Cajon. Patriotism abounded with red, white and blue everywhere the eye could see.
With the birds chirping and the sun shining, it seemed Mother Nature herself saw fit to attend the inaugural America on Main Street festival held in downtown El Cajon. Patriotism abounded with red, white and blue everywhere the eye could see.
With vendors, performers and attendees of every race, creed and religion imaginable this successor to the old Friendship Festival was extremely popular. Sixty white doves were released to commemorate this special day, it being not only the inaugural day of Main Street America but June 14 also celebrated Flag Day along with the 239th birthday of the U. S. Army.
Congresswoman Susan Davis spoke at the opening ceremonies thanking all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. She also spoke of El Cajon’s diverse community.
“I really am proud to represent a place that embraces and takes time to recognize the importance of building a variety of cultural traditions into shared ones,” said Davis. “It is important for people to do that.”
County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said it was an appropriate theme with all that was happening.
“What unites us all is Old Glory and the values it represents,” she said. “Freedom, hope and love of country. These are the values that bring us together today. Regardless of your religion, your race or your ethnicity we all have a place under the red, white and blue.”
Former mayor Joan Shoemaker conceived El Cajon’s Friendship Festival. Overall the festival lasted for two decades with a break in between with the last one held in 2003.
Recently, Mayor Pro Tempore Gary Kendrick thought of restarting the festival after being asked by his sons why it was not around anymore. After calling Shoemaker and asking her opinion on bringing the festival back, Kendrick and Councilmember Tony Ambrose got together decided to continue this El Cajon tradition.
“It’s obviously turned out to be a great success, this patriotic celebration of diversity,” he said.
After the opening ceremonies, Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty led a procession to Prescott Promenade where a naturalization ceremony took place. Fifty immigrants from 14 countries took the Oath of Allegiance for U.S. citizenship.
“So help me God,” they said as their oath was finished and it was greeted with a roar of applause as the new citizens celebrated their new accomplishment.
State Assemblyman Brian Jones congratulated those naturalized on becoming citizens of what he said was the best country on the planet—the United States.
“Today as you take your oaths to become U.S. citizens, we welcome you with open arms,” he said.
