Is San Francisco less patriotic because it doesn't have a 4th of July parade?

Thursday, July 4, 2019
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One place that doesn't have a 4th of July parade is San Francisco. The fact that the city has so many other parades is a testament to the city's love for diversity.
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For example, we have the Italian Heritage Parade, the Chinese New Year Parade, the St. Patrick's Parade, the Filipino Cultural Parade and we just celebrated Pride last week.

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So why doesn't the city have an Independence Day parade?

We were directed to San Francisco's Mission Terrace neighborhood where a big celebration was being held. We were told there that longtime San Franciscans would know why.

"Maybe because we don't have any tanks today, I'm not sure," laughed Jean Feilmoser, a native San Franciscan.
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Instead they had "fiery" vintage cars. For the past 32 years, the owner of Roxie Food Center has been feeding hundreds of people on the July 4.

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"It's been my honor and pleasure to do this," said Simon Tannouse, Roxie's owner. "I really don't know why we don't have a parade in San Francisco."



In fact, none of the people born and raised in San Francisco that we spoke with recall ever seeing a citywide 4th of July parade, only the traditional fireworks show. Are San Franciscans that confident with their patriotism that they don't need a parade?

"We are Americans, a grand idea, 1776 and we're still here and still going strong, so is San Francisco and I'm a native San Franciscan one of the few left," expressed Feilmoser.
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