Keeping with tradition, several outstanding members of the Class of 2019 will receive awards as the 35th annual Sweet Land of Liberty parade for youth honors America’s birthday on July 4 in downtown LaGrange.

Award winners exemplify the parade’s theme of “Bright Stars, Bold Stripes and Brave Hearts,” said Lindsey Perkins, Junior Service League board member and chairman of the 2019 parade.

Lady Liberty award winners for 2019 include Savannah Addison of Callaway High School, daughter of Sarah Duran; Hope Perry of Lafayette Christian School, daughter of Amber Perry; Deysha Bledsoe of LaGrange High School, daughter of Aguila Floyd; Evelyn Johnson of Troup High School, daughter of Jeremy and Kathryn Johnson and Sadie Bryan of West Georgia Homeschool Association, daughter of Daniel and Janice Bryan.

Honorees receiving the Uncle Sam Award for 2019 include Jeffery Toney of Callaway High School, son of Adena and Samuel Toney Sr.; Andrew Allen of Lafayette Christian School, son of Kiley and Kerri Allen; Michael Scott of LaGrange High School, son of Mark and Catherine Scott; Harrison Lawson of Troup High School, son of Shannon Lawson and Jonathan Lawson; and Brian Hays of West Georgia Homeschool Association, son of Michael and Dawn Hays.

“The honorees were chosen by their schools because they display good character, patriotism and leadership. Honoring outstanding youth is a tradition of the parade, dating back to its early days and founders Annette and Jim Boyd,” Perkins said.

The program, honoring grand marshals Debbie and Speer Burdette, gets under way at 9:30 a.m. on East Lafayette Square and will be followed at 10 by the parade.

Marchers assemble at Sweetland Amphitheater at Boyd Park, named for the parade founders, and proceed down Church Street to the Square. Judges will select winners of cash awards, including a $300 grand prize.

Registration for the parade continues. Participation is free and open to anyone 19 and younger. Forms are available at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center on Lafayette Parkway and online at jsloflagrange.org