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Generations come together to celebrate the nation

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Sienna Sobkiewicz, 3, from Bethel Park mimics the runners’ reactions as they cross the finish line during the Brentwood Firecracker 5K held prior to the parade on the Fourth of July.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Stacey Ott, Carrie Geddes, Charleigh Ott, Connor Geddes, Carolina Geddes and Jean White were among the four generations of families attending the Fourth of July festivities held in Brentwood.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Nikki Yingling and Brian LeJeune run the Brentwood Firecracker 5K in memory of their father. This year the Bethel Park siblings were joined by their sons Tyson Yingling (cape) and Noah LeJeune.

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Sienna Sobkiewicz, 3, from Bethel Park makes bubbles with her toy while waiting for the parade to begin during Brentwood's Fourth of July celebration.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Jessie Christensen of Upper St. Clair (right) prepared a blue raspberry treat for a customer at the Brentwood Fourth of July parade. Christensen was working the Wu’s Shaved Ice vending cart, owned and operated by Tim Wu of Upper St. Clair.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Nick Wolk won the Brentwood Firecracker 5K race for the second year in a row. The Peters Township High School graduate posted a winning time of 15:09, 33 seconds faster than his mark the year prior.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Sam Dzuka enjoys a cold beverage after competing his 3.1-mile run during the 40th annual Brentwood Firecracker 5K held on the Fourth of July.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Runners look to refuel after completing the Brentwood Firecracker 5K run on July 4. Leading the pack and picking up a couple of orange slices is Guiseppe Mascari Jr. of Mt. Lebanon.

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Jessie Christensen of Upper St. Clair (right) prepared a cherry ice treat for a customer at the Brentwood Fourth of July parade. Christensen was working the Wu's Shaved Ice vending cart.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Children rush to pick up candy thrown to spectators during the Brentwood Fourth of July parade.

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Excited children race to gather up the candy thrown out during the Brentwood Fourth of July Parade.

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Members of the Pittsburgh police's mounted patrol participated in the Brentwood Fourth of July parade.

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The Korean War veterans were honored during the Brentwood Fourth of July parade.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Spectators at the Brentwood Fourth of July parade hold their ears after a blast from a passing Army tank. The military equipment was part of the theme honoring Korean War veterans.

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The Brentwood High School Band was one of the marching units entertaining at the community's annual Fourth of July parade.

America celebrated its 247th birthday on July 4, and citizens united to mark the occasion with races, parades, picnics and fireworks. The commemorations spanned generations.

For years, the White-Geddes family of Bethel Park had begun their day by attending the Fourth of July celebration held in Brentwood. Jean White started the tradition by bringing her five children, Craig, Curt, Corey, Carrie and Clarke, to the parade. This year, she attended with her daughter, grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

“There is nowhere I’d rather be,” White said. “It’s such a special day.”

Carrie Geddes agreed. Her daughter, Courtney, and boyfriend are members of the U.S. Army.

“It gives the day new meaning,” Geddes said. “We celebrate (the Fourth) for them.”

Both agreed that the South Hills is a “great place” to live and raise a family, though it can be “scary” at times.

“There is no other country I would rather live in,” Geddes said.

“I have always been here and I love this country,” added White.

Although she is only 3, Sienna Sobkiewicz of Bethel Park enjoyed the day’s events, which also included the 40th annual Firecracker 5K prior to the parade.

“I like clapping for the runners to win the race,” she said. “The horses and candy.”

Sienna attended the festivities with her parents, Kristen and Steve, and grandmother, Karen Montgomery.

“I was in the parade one year,” Steve said. A Baldwin High School graduate, he was a member of the bowling team rather than the marching band. “I marched, but not in the band. For the bowling lane, Princess Lane,” he added. “I don’t bowl anymore. I’m retired.”

Nick Wolk is far from retired. The Canonsburg resident continues to be a standout runner while also working for Milestone. The nonprofit organization works to help people with disabilities find full-time employment.

A Peters Township High School and Pitt graduate, Wolk successfully defended his title. He won the 5K race for the second year in a row with a 15:09 time.

“It would not be the Fourth of July without running a 5K in the morning,” said Wolk. “I love being in Brentwood and seeing the crowd and hearing the music. This is what the Fourth of July is for me.”

After accepting his award and a cooldown run, Wolk also took in a bit of the parade.

“I just like seeing the people out here and the sense of community,” he said. “You don’t get that much anymore, so it’s nice seeing everybody out celebrating. People smiling, shaking hands, saying hi to each other,” he added. “We are just everyday people celebrating. Despite our differences, we can all come out and celebrate.”

For Brian LeJeune and Nikki Yingling, the Brentwood Fourth of July celebration is one of remembrance and family. The Bethel Park siblings compete in the race in honor of their father, who passed away in 2021.

“We do this in memory of dad and we absolutely, 100%, think of him when we are out here running,” said Nikki.

“He always had a ’57 Chevy in the parade. He always took his old car out on the Fourth of July and ride with our grandfather,” Brian said. “Down the road, we might enter it but right now we figured we’d run instead.”

This year, LeJeune ran with his son, Noah, while Nikki competed with her son, Tyson.

“I’m so proud of him for doing it with me and carrying on the tradition,” Brian said.

“My dad pushed me to do it and why not?” Noah said. “I’m glad I did it. It was a lot of fun. Everyone cheering you on,” Noah said.

Noah added that he would do it again because that is what the day is all about.

“Hanging out with family,” he said.

“We love it,” added Nikki.

Jessie Christensen of Upper St. Clair could not have enjoyed the festivities more. She had a front row seat to take in her first Brentwood celebration because she was selling Wu’s Shaved Ice to customers in search of relief from the heat. The vending cart was stationed on a corner where the race and parade concluded. The Susquehanna University sophomore was awed by the day’s events.

Of the race Christensen said, “I thought it was impressive that somebody finished it in 15 minutes, 8 seconds. I could not do that. So it’s very cool someone was able to run that fast.”

Of the parade, she admitted, “I had a good spot for it. I love parades,” she said.

The holiday gave Michael Telek from Bethel Park hope for the future. He is employed by the University of Pittsburgh, producing video and graphic designs for a research center while he attends graduate school in pursuit of a masters degree in legal studies. Telek was on site with his dog to support his running friends and watch the parade.

“When towns have community days, it’s always fun. It’s cool to see everybody gather,” he said.

“This shows that everyone is the same at the end of the day. We are all friends. We all do the same things. People just need to be more accepting. That would solve a lot of problems.”

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