To the Editor:

The Stanhope community celebrated its’ 59th Watermelon Day on Saturday, July 16. The word for the day had to be – WOW! The weather only highlighted a beautiful summer day for a parade, games of skill, a softball tournament, Lion burgers, homemade pies and of course, ice cold watermelon. It was a day to meet with friends and relatives or perhaps meet a new friend.

From the presentation of the American Flag, followed by Grand Marshalls and Lion of the Year, Bill Muessigmann, spectators were treated to a variety of over 100 floats. There were Boy Scouts, 4-Hers, kids on bicycles, kids in a church group, kids tumbling, a Za-Ga-Zig Calliope from Des Moines, clubs, businesses, horses, doodle bugs, a clown, antique cars, tractors and area rescue vehicles. One had to wonder just what was coming down the street next! I thought of the Stanhope parades of years ago when I heard the great marches played by an alumni band organized by Alan Spohnheimer of Ames.

Special thanks to our Grand Marshals, Sheriff Denny Hagenson and Police Chief Steve Butler for your 70+ years of law enforcement in Hamilton County and the Stanhope area.

Thanks to the following area merchants and organizations for their generous donations in support of Watermelon Day: Arnold Motor Supply, Casady Bros. Implement, Central Iowa Building Supply, City of Stanhope, Cooperative Telephone Exchange, Ehlert Seed, First State Bank, Gerber Auto Care, J & V Hardware, Landus Corporation, Mid Iowa Truck Services, NAPA, Peterson Construction, Poet Biorefining, Sparky’s One Stop, Stanhope Coffee Ladies, Timm’s Auto Body, Tolle Automotive Inc., Town & Country Insurance, The Trashman, United Co-op, Webster City Auto Center, Good Life RV and one donor who wished to remain anonymous.

Although sponsored by the Stanhope Lions, Watermelon Day happens because of the support of the Stanhope Firemen, the Watermelon Day Committee and the many local residents who give hours of their time, talents and hard labor. It really does take a community willing to work together to make this day a success for all who attend. And it really says something about a small community when people return year after year (some from out of state) for this one-day celebration called Watermelon Day. It’s a day when the whole community takes up the Lion motto of “We Serve.”

From the Stanhope Lions a heartfelt – thank you the citizens of Stanhope and surrounding communities. Congratulations to another successful Watermelon Day.

Jackie Frederick

Secretary, Stanhope Lions Club