Seven Young Oxford Families Team Up, Create Winning “Freedom Fanatic Flagship” Float

One Mom remarked on Oxford’s Fourth of July parade day, “It looks like Wal-Mart exploded all over this float, but we all had a lot of fun decorating!”

It is likely that same sentiment (of doing something fun for the kids and not taking it too seriously) helped the “Freedom Fanatics Flagship” float win first place in the Oxford July 4th Children’s Parade float competition.

The seven Oxford families who pulled it together are all good friends, and they saw this as a chance to have a fun project to make memories with their kids.

“Once we all decided to do it, we invited the families over for a decorating party on Sunday,” said Fowler Staines, one of the moms of the group. “We had a trailer and a vehicle, and everyone brought decorations.”

The next step was to get everyone dressed up in their red, white and blue on the morning of July 4. The fact the Ole Miss’ colors are red and blue helped the young families with some of the wardrobe selections.

The “Freedom Fanatics Flagship Float” Families

CARTERS: Keith and Jill Carter and their children Drew, Callie and Hayes

HARDINS: Brent and Ramey Hardin and their children Hampton, Anne Lowry and Hollins

HOLLIS: Denson and Lauren Hollis and their children Eloise and Marian

LAFFERTYS: Carl and Lauren Lafferty and their son Will

MOSSBERGS: Matt and Cheryl Mossberg and their children Jack, Pete and Roy

STAINES: Billy and Fowler Staines and their children Graham and Miles

WEATHERALLS: Heath and Elizabeth Weatherall and their children Annie and Betsy

The staging area for the floats was just off the Square, and the kids were pretty excited to get going!

Photo from the “Freedom Fanatics Flagship” float decorating party.

Photo from the “Freedom Fanatics Flagship” float decorating party.

Photo from the “Freedom Fanatics Flagship” float decorating party.

Photo from the “Freedom Fanatics Flagship” float decorating party.

The Freedom Fanatic Flagship float getting ready on parade day!

Fowler Staines, son Miles and Lauren Lafferty are two of the Moms who were involved with the Freedom Fanatics Flagship float.

Jack Mossberg and Will Lafferty bringing up the rear on the float on parade day!

Will isn’t sure about those glasses his friend Jack is wearing.

All the children dressed in red and blue to fit with the theme.

All loaded up and ready for the July 4 parade!

Allison Buchanan is CEO of New Media Lab LLC, parent company of hottytoddy.com. She can be reached at allison.buchanan@hottytoddy.com.

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