MOLINE, Illinois — A small neighborhood in Moline has been bringing big crowds to its annual parade for decades. A Fourth of July parade was held at the corner of 25th Avenue Court and 12th Street near John Deere Middle School on Monday morning.
It's a parade that is all about bringing family and neighbors back together.
"People come back every year, and now we're in the third generation in our family and the fourth generation in our family," said Jane Slivken who moved to the neighborhood back in 1973. Now her son, Rob Mensing brings his own children to the very same parade in which he used to participate as a boy.
The parade route is just a few blocks long and takes participants about 15 minutes. Though it's short, it garners a large crowd.
"Oh, I just think it's great fun. I love watching the little kids with their bikes," said Vicky Parker, a resident along the parade route.
Ride, walk or push; there aren't many rules, just one thing to remember.
"Our freedoms that we have in this country are unlike anything that anyone's had in the history of the world, so we appreciate that and everything our country does to sustain that," said Nate Hoover, a Milan resident who participated in the parade with his young family.
As for the after party, everyone is welcome to stop by and get a hot dog at the house on the corner.
"We're up to about 120 hot dogs this year, so we're doing pretty good," said Sam Till, who owns the house right on the intersection where the parade route starts. When Till moved into his home 13 years ago, the previous owners had a condition.
"It's funny, they introduced themselves and said, 'You're going to continue to grill hot dogs for the fourth of July parade right?'," said Till.
He made good on the condition. Every year, Till and his family serve up hot dogs to neighbors and parade participants.
For Rob Mensing, the parade is a tradition he hopes continues for generations to come. Watching his children participate in the parade, as he watches with his mom by his side, is special.
"That's what does it for me, knowing that I did this, then coming back and watching them means a lot," said Mensing.