Korschgen, saw his neighborhood kids had nothing to do on the 4th of July, so he purchased a dozen small flags strapped his snare drum around his neck and led them many times around block in the west end of Fort Madison. Having started a tradition, Charlie continued this routine for many years, gradually increasing the parade route and buying the participants candy with his own money. Finally by t
he time the 1930’s rolled around the participation had grown so that Charlie got help from fellow workers at the AT&SF and neighbors to assist with the treats and the parade. By this time the “east enders” had noticed the importance of the parade and invited Charlie to lead his band of patriots into the Fort Madison downtown district. One loyal youngster who took part in the first parade, Don Valentine, stayed with the parade until Charlie passed away in January 1966 after leading 53 parades. Don Valentine helped the Fort Madison Jaycees keep the tradition alive. By the 1940’s, Charlie was having 500 to 1,000 kids take part in the parade and by 1946, when the Loyal Order of the Moose started providing treats the “grand old-man” as Charlie was called just had to organize the parade. With age catching up with Charlie the Fort Madison Junior Chamber of Commerce volunteered to take over the organization of the parade and continued to do so until the local Jaycee Chapter disbanded in 1999 and since that time a small dedicated group of volunteers have kept the parade going and in 2008 incorporated as a non-profit corporation. Everyone young and old is invited to take part in the parade to celebrate our nation’s birthday, however, the committee reserves to right to refuse entries not in the spirit of the holiday or would create a safety hazard to those participating in the parade
