Preparations continue for the Celebrate America 2004 Parade and fireworks show scheduled for July 2 at Greenville High School’s Tiger Stadium.

Event sponsors Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce and Greenville Main Street are still rounding up participants and sponsors.

There will be several forms of entertainment with the main event being the fireworks show.

The show begins at 9 p.m. The stadium lights will be turned off to give the crowd the full effect of the show.

Some light will remain on for safety purposes.

&uot;The only lights that will be left on are the emergency lights,&uot; said Chamber Director Carol Lee. &uot;All others will be cut off at 9 p.m.&uot;

Lee said there would be booths available for anyone who wished to use them.

&uot;We have booths that we are going to put up,&uot; said Lee. &uot;People can go through the Chamber if they would like to use them.&uot;

The event has had some success in landing a few major sponsors for the event. One of them is Stabler Clinic.

Jerry Golden, Stabler Clinic administrator, said the event was very important and worthy of everyone’s support.

&uot;I think it’s an important event mainly because it gives back to our community,&uot; said Golden. &uot;During this time of uncertainty as far as terrorism I think it is one of those things we need to do to show our support for our troops and the freedom so many have fought and died for.&uot;

Golden urged everyone to show his or her support by sponsoring and attending the event.

&uot;Being a part of something like this is something everyone should do,&uot; said Golden. &uot;We shouldn’t have any trouble at all finding sponsors for this.&uot;

Alabama Power is another big sponsor for the event.

Alabama Power Office Manager Judy Gettys felt now was the right time for an event like this.

&uot;The timing is just right,&uot; said Gettys. &uot;We just celebrated the new World War II monument and the 60 anniversary of D-Day. It is just a good time to celebrate.&uot;

Gettys, who is heavily involved with the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event needs everyone’s support to be successful.

&uot;The Chamber is a nonprofit organization so it takes sponsorship to make these things work,&uot; said Gettys. &uot;For this to succeed we need support.&uot;

This will be Greenville’s first big Fourth of July celebration in a few years.

The Chamber has worked very hard to make the date and location convenient for the people of Greenville.

It is hoped that the people will respond by sponsoring and attending the event.

All sponsorships are welcome for the event.

For more information on supporting the event contact Carol Lee at the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce at 382-3251.

For information on the parade contact Nancy Idland at 382-3041.