Reporter-News Photo by Ronald W. Erdrich Austin McClure, 2, plays chauffeur for his 1-year-old sister, Allie, during an Independence Day parade in Buffalo Gap. Parade participants circled the Buffalo Gap Historic Village twice for the benefit of judges before going inside for Base Ball and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. For more, turn to page 1B.

Flags fluttered in the breeze on Mulberry Street in Buffalo Gap the morning of July 4 as children of all ages (and some moms and dads and grandparents) lined up on bicycles and wagons decorated with red, white or blue, or on foot, for the third annual children's parade. They were led by. R.L. and Tennie McCarty (who tossed candy to the spectators) and flanked on each end by the Buffalo Gap Volunteer Fire Department's largest fire trucks.

The procession meandered north to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the ringing of the church bell on the Village church by children -- one for each of the 50 states in the order they joined the United States -- and the judging of the parade entries.

Special guest Army Col. Alan Huffines, on furlough from his station in Baghdad, dressed in period costume and read the Declaration of Independence, beginning with "Hear ye! Hear ye!" and ending with "God save the United States."

Tennie McCarty presented each parade participant with a ribbon and announced the winners for the best creatively decorated entry: First place, Austin and Allie McClure; second place, Natalie and Levi Jones; and third place, Hunter Lockley.

Visitors were then free to browse the Village for the day, watch the Buffalo Gap Chips play the Abilene 407s in a game of vintage base ball (the 407s won, 18-14), and enjoy the taste of a hamburger or sausage on a stick from Doc's Cook Shack.

-- Grace Broyles