PEKIN, IND. (WDRB) -- 182 years and counting -- Pekin Indiana's 4th of July celebration is thought to be the oldest consecutive 4th of July celebration in the nation.
The five-day event culminates on Independence Day and something's missing this year. A tornado shredded this community on March 2nd, and homes and businesses crumbled to the ground.
An entire family died behind Joy Sill's home: "I don't think people realize how overwhelming the work is." She is still cleaning up her own disaster. She says, "You're doing content and inventory lists, and dealing with insurance agencies, and trying to work full time and take care of the kid."
It makes a familiar family-friendly festival seem just too far away to grasp. Sill says, "I would love to leave and be able to go join the festivities, but I've still got work to finish. We're on a time limit. We've got people coming in and you can't get this job done until you finish the next job."
Despite the declines, organizers expect 8,000 to 10,000 people to line the parade route on Wednesday. Organizer Anita Temple says, "I know that they will leave with the proud fact that Pekin will live on."
Sill says if she does go, it will be more than a celebration of freedom -- it will be a celebration of survival.
Sill says, "That the kids are safe and we're all here in one piece, the rest of it's stuff it will get put back together when it does. And you have to thank God for the blessing that you have." When asked if things were still tough, she said, "Yes. Still very fresh, even though it's been four months."
Governor Mitch Daniels will be the honorary grand marshal of Pekin's 4th of July Parade on Wednesday.
The route goes from Main Street to Highway 60 and then wraps around Pekin Park. The event starts at 10 a.m.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
