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Crowds Turn Out To Honor Those Who Serve At Ridgewood, N.J. 4th Of July Parade

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Ridgewood, New Jersey honored first responders in its Fourth of July parade Tuesday.

As CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported, this Independence Day marked the 107th such celebration in Ridgewood. Pride and patriotism were on display, replete with marching bands, military and honor guards flying the flag.

It is a parade that people in Ridgewood look forward to all year long. Some put their chairs out along the parade route days or even weeks in advance to get a good viewing spot.

People in Ridgewood said it is an enduring tradition – and one that is highly cherished.

"I think it's a very good parade," one young boy said. "I like all the floats and how everyone's marching – it's just a very fantastic way of having a parade."

"It's a way of celebrating participation; service; community; people that have served the community – and so it's a very special tradition for me, and I believe the town," a woman added.

For 107 years the people of Ridgewood have held the parade and shown pride in all that it represents.

"The freedom that we have, almost no other country on this planet has. It's that simple," Peter Bouton said.

The enduring tradition has become vastly cherished and deeply personal.

"I get all mushy. I'm sorry. It's a way of celebrating participation, service, community," Dianne Simmons said.

Replete with marching bands, the military, and old glory in all its majesty.

"Everybody comes. Every town wants to be a part of it," one resident said.

Some, through the years have put out chairs on the parade route well in advance, tying them down and locking them up, determined to sit in the same location every year.

"I have been in this spot for close to 20 years," Deb Graske said.

It's a tradition that goes back to when Dwight Eisenhower was president, and Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California.

The parade was followed Tuesday evening by entertainment and fireworks at Veterans Field.

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