BY CHRIS KELLEY

Serving as Grand Marshall of the annual Lake Highlands Fourth of July Parade on Wednesday, retiring Richardson school board member Luke Davis led the annual celebration that attracted more than 3,500 LH residents who enjoyed the Independence Day festivities on sunny, breezy morning.

Sponsored by the Lake Highlands Exchange Club, the parade along Church Road in front of Lake Highlands High School featured floats from local schools, churches and businesses and--because it's an election year--a host of candidates for local and statewide political races that will be decided in November.

One of the popular featured attractions was the drill team The Highlandettes of Lake Highlands High School led by Captain Berkley Johnson, a senior. The famous LHHS Bell Boys rang their bell and tossed out mini-footballs along the parade route. The Wranglers, a group of LHHS country western dancers, also performed briefly along the parade route. The Lake Highlands Military Moms received enthusiastic applause as they passed by in cars, holding up photos of loved ones serving in the military.

A surprise parade attraction came from the sky. A Dallas Police helicopter landed in an empty soccer field across from the high school and attracted a side crowd of kids and their parents who enjoyed meeting the friendly pilot and learning about police patrols from overhead.

Photos by Curran Kelley