Freedom is not free. That message came home loud and clear for those who attended the parade in Zebulon today.

The theme of the parade was "We Shall Never Forget". Veterans from several wars rode in the main float as Grand Marshalls.

Fallenheroesofgeorgia.com provided placards for 174 soldiers who have died in the line of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers from Pike and surrounding counties came together to honor these fallen heroes and their families.

Teresa Rutledge organized volunteers to carry the placards in the parade. Many of those standing along the side of the highway stood and clapped in respect for these fallen soldiers and their families as the volunteers walked by. It was a sight to behold.

If you look closely at the picture of the three men holding the banner for The Fallen Heroes Family Foundation, you will notice a family resemblance between the them. Twin brothers Larry and Harry Earls are holding the outside of the banner while Adam Earls holds the middle.

Larry and Harry live here in Pike County. Adam is Larry's nephew and had come to visit from Texas to run the Peachtree Road race with his Dad and Uncle.

Larry said that his niece saw the story on television about the need for volunteers to hold placards for fallen heroes during the parade in Pike County and wanted to be a part of it.

"Our family is very supportive of the military," Larry said. They are part of a large military family. Larry and Harry's Dad was in the Army during World War II. Larry served in Vietnam, Harry served in Germany during the Vietnam War, and Adam served in Fallujah.

Adam was going to carry the placard for a Marine Lt. in one of his units who is a fallen hero before he was asked to carry the banner with his Dad and Uncle. Larry said it was a hard decision for Adam to make. In the end, Adam's Mom carried this placard for Adam and Adam carried the banner proudly with his Dad and Uncle.

"It was an honor for us to participate," said Larry.

Family members from the family of Lance Corporal Jeffrey D. Walker carried his placard and those of other fallen heroes. Many family members rode a float in the parade as well. A Marine in full uniform carried the placard of Master Sgt. Davy Weaver.

"It was very, very humbling," said volunteer walker Trisha Dabbs. She said that she felt the volunteers made an impact on people along the parade route, and she was very touched to see young children asking their parents about the placards and the names and ranks of those who were being honored today during the parade.

The new ladder truck was featured in the parade today as well. It was purchased from First Class Fire Apparatus, Inc. of Monroe, North Carolina using funds from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant award. See article below.

Many home town folks came out to celebrate Independence Day by being a part of the parade with their vehicles, horses, tractors, and being part of a float and there were many who came out to celebrate by waving, clapping, and collecting candy as the parade passed by.

The festivities at the Pike County Parks & Recreation Fields and the fireworks were fantastic! If you missed it this year, you missed a treat!

Thank you to all of the citizens and businesses who contributed to the Fireworks Fund and helped to make this event possible. Thank you to the Pike County Parks & Recreation Authority and the staff of Pike County Parks & Rec for taking this celebration and running with it once again. And thank you to those citizens who made phone calls, baked items and made lemonade, donated items for the yard sale, took pies in the face as a fundraiser, and all who spent your time making sure that that the county raised enough money to have this celebration of our Independence Day right here in Pike County.