The Rotary International’s parade float, a U-Haul trailer filled with nearly every national flag where Rotary operates, drives down the Evanston streets during the 4th of July parade last Friday. Photo by Logan Szymanski / Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute 
Members of the Chicago Highlanders Pipes and Drums march down Evanston streets holding the American, Scottish and Chicago Highland Pipe Band flags during the 4th of July parade last Friday. Photo by Logan Szymanski / Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute 
The Rotary International’s parade float, a U-Haul trailer filled with nearly every national flag where Rotary operates, gets ready for the Evanston 4th of July parade last Friday. Photo by Logan Szymanski / Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute
For two decades, the Rotary International Club has entered the same float in the Evanston Fourth of July Parade: a U-Haul trailer filled with nearly every national flag.
“We do a traditional parade entry, and we don’t redesign every year because we have a consistent story to tell,” Rotary International Club member Bruce Baumberger said. “We’re focused on showing our internationality.”
Baumberger said the flags illustrate Rotary’s reach beyond its Evanston headquarters. That message of global connection is one that members like Dave Baker find especially powerful.
“With all of the discord in the world, I think people see an organization flying these flags as a sign of unity around the world,” he said.
The Rotary Club wasn’t alone in using flags to tell a story. The Chicago Highlanders Pipes and Drums flew the Scottish flag to illustrate their specific contribution to the American story. Joshua Hooker, a piper, said sharing love for that part of their heritage is integral to who they are.
“The United States is a conglomeration of many different and diverse heritages,” he said. “For this group in particular, this is a symbol of who we are, and this organization where we’ve originated, which is a part of the fabric of the United States.”
For many, the fabric of their flag demonstrated their contributions to the United States. Tierra y Luz de Mexico flew the Mexican flag to show that being American and being Mexican are not mutually exclusive, said group member Mirka Gallo. Their motto, “two cultures, one voice,” shows how cultural intersectionality plays an important role in who they are, she said.
“When people say America, it’s including North, Central and South,” Gallo said. “I think a lot of people forget that there is Central and South America. It’s really important that we get to showcase the other parts of America.”
Displaying those many other ways someone can be an American was crucial for the Queer Joy Consortium. The parade was a chance to reinforce the idea that the American flag must represent every community, group member Robbyn Pauley said.
“The American flag really is for everyone,” Pauley said. “It’s ‘We the People.’ It’s all people. And so, for us, today, I don’t really want to say it’s about taking back the flag but owning the fact that the flag is for everyone.”
