Sometimes you spend years documenting a community tradition from behind the camera, never expecting that one day you'll become part of the story. For me, that moment happened this year when my wife, Maureen O'Reilly, and I had the incredible honor of being selected as the Grand Marshals for Ridgefield's 4th of July Parade.

The history of Ridgefield's Independence Day celebrations goes back nearly a century. The first organized Fourth of July community events date back to the 1930s when Roy Schroeder served as the manager of the Fourth of July events held in the city by the American Legion, helping establish a tradition that has continued through generations.

Today, that tradition is carried forward by the Ridgefield 4th of July Committee, an incorporated nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a spirit of patriotism through an annual Independence Day celebration. Festival Director Sandy Schill, Parade Director Shelly Geiter, and the many unpaid volunteers who work behind the scenes deserve a tremendous amount of credit.

The role of Grand Marshal is a ceremonial honor given to someone who serves as the public figurehead and honorary leader of a parade. The word "marshal" comes from Old High German, combining marah, meaning horse, and scalc, meaning servant. It originally referred to royal stable keepers who eventually evolved into military leaders responsible for organizing armies and formal processions.

In the 1800s, American civic groups, fire departments, and fraternal organizations held large-scale parades and adopted the military title of "Grand Marshal" for the person responsible for leading the event. Over time, as professional organizations took over parade logistics, the role shifted from an operational position into the honorary tradition we know today.

And what an honor it was! The 4th of July Committee selected Maureen and me to serve as Grand Marshals as Ridgefield celebrated America's 250th anniversary. While I have spent many years photographing community events, Maureen's role as President of the Ridgefield Art Association (RAA) was a big part of why we were selected. It only felt right that we share this honor with the more than 170 RAA members and supporters who help make the arts such an important part of our community. So instead of riding alone, we pulled the RAA float behind us and brought our art community along.

After the American Legion Post 44 Color Guard opened the parade, Maureen and I had the privilege of leading the way. Looking down the parade route, we were greeted by a sea of red, white, and blue. Families lined the streets three to six rows deep, smiling, waving, and celebrating together. We saw so many familiar faces from around Ridgefield, and both of us had nonstop smiles as we soaked in every second. It was a surreal 20 minutes of fame that went by far too quickly.

Of course, the magic of the parade does not happen without the dozens of volunteers. With nearly 80 parade entries participating this year, coordinating everything is no small task. Parade participants are staged at Abrams Park on the grass fields and at Union Ridge Elementary, where volunteers organize everyone into the correct order by 9 a.m. Parade coordinators then make sure each group heads out at the right time so the event flows smoothly.

One of the fun responsibilities of the Grand Marshal, along with Mayor Matt Cole, is selecting our favorite entries that best represent the parade theme. This year, the Grand Marshal award went to Mountain View Dental for their impressive smoking Mount St. Helens float. Mayor Cole selected Clark Regional Wastewater District for their amazing America 250th-themed float.

I also want to recognize the City of Ridgefield for arriving at 2:30 a.m. to add cones and ribbons along the parade route to help keep children safely out of the street while still getting to enjoy one of the parade's favorite traditions: candy.

As someone who has photographed the Ridgefield 4th of July Parade for Greet Ridgefield and the City of Ridgefield since 2012, I can honestly say this was the largest crowd I have seen along the parade route. It is truly a community event. The energy throughout the event was incredible. I spent years photographing the parade from the sidelines. This year, I got to experience it from the front row. It was an unforgettable honor, and one my wife and I will always treasure.

If you would like to volunteer, participate in the parade, or become part of this amazing community tradition, visit the Ridgefield 4th of July Committee website at ridgefield4th.org.