On July 1 Highlands Ranch was called the most patriotic city in America by former Gov. Bill Owens.

On the fourth, residents and their guests showed that patriotic pride as thousands turned out for an all day extravaganza in Town Center.

Starting with a 5K run, won by Paul DiGrappa in the men’s division and Shauna Nelson in the women’s division, and a children’s bike parade, the festivities geared up with a parade and the day stretched out with games and entertainment.

But the focus was on veterans in the parade, and the slow but steady trickle of people over to the veteran’s monument in Civic Green Park.

Will Tharp, 15, was able to peg the real reason behind a day of mountain treks, backyard barbecues, parades and small explosions.

“July 4 is the day the Declaration of Independence was signed,” Tharp said.

Not bad, considering four adults asked the same question said the Constitution. Ratification of the Constitution started Sept. 17, 1787 and continued through several state conventions in 1788.

The parade gave tribute to the military through color guards, re-enactors and military vehicle displays.

Frank Scholer brought his Ukranian copy of a BMW R75, a sidecar motorcycle used by Germans in World War II. Scholer is a World War II reenactor with a persona of a Stars and Stripes reporter, down to the military issue camera.

Other vehicles included several Willys Jeeps, a 1972 Dodge ambulance, a Steyr Pinzgauer 710M and 712 M troop and cargo carriers, weapons carriers and cargo trucks.

Windcrest Retirement community residents rode along in the military vehicles, owned by the members of the Military Vehicle Collectors of Colorado.

Back at the stage, live music ranged from patriotic to a tip of a hat to the King of Pop, as My Friend Tom played a version of Michael Jackson’s mega hit “Billie Jean.”

The Highlands Ranch Community Chorus brought it back home with a mix of patriotic tunes, including Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” and musical standards.

Vendors, issue booths and displays ringed the park at Town Center.

Jeff Wasden, former Highlands Ranch Community Association board member and now advocate for eliminating term limits for the county sheriff and coroner, was soliciting signatures for the term limit ending petition.

He was thoughtful about the meaning of the holiday.

“July 4 is a chance to gather, to rally and be thankful for the birth of the country,” Wasden said. “Other countries don’t have the rights and freedoms that we have.”

A new twist was the all American hot dog, paired with a timed eating contest, sponsored by Bernie’s Hot Dog Co.

Sean Sullivan was prompted to enter by his son, and ate 10 hot dogs in five minutes. This was Sullivan’s first eating competition.

The celebration was organized by the staff of the HRCA.