Freedom Fest at Longboat Key offers Independence Day dog parade competition

LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. — Tully the Irish Setter is a champion.

“He won most patriotic dog two years ago,” said Eilleen Kamerick.

And he wants to repeat.

Tully is returning to Longboat Key’s Freedom Fest and the Hot Diggity Dog July 4^th Parade, along with parents Eileen and her husband Victor Heckler.

They are hoping for a repeat win at this year’s Freedom Fest celebration on the island.

“I’m not sure if we’re going to go with the sort of Uncle Sam costume,” said Kamerick, looking through Tully’s costume box.

Both spouses have World War II veterans in their families, and Tully might go as a U.S. Naval Officer.

The dog parade is this married couple’s way of coming together as they hold opposing political beliefs.

He’s a Republican. She’s a Democrat. They avoid politics and lean into patriotism.

“Patriotism in terms of support of the country and trying to find unity rather than disunity is very important,” said Kamerick.

They remember the sacrifices of the first soldiers.

“What we are commemorating is not only the signing of the paper, but what followed, which was five years of struggle before Independence was actually achieved,” said Heckler.

And they remember all the veterans that have come after.

They’ve kept us free, and we are charged with caring for them, for the country, and for each other.

“It’s just a time for us to heal our divisions and say we have more in common than we have that’s different,” said Kamerick.

Happy Independence Day.