Lindale will celebrate America’s birthday during an Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, June 26.

A parade will start at 10 a.m. and travels from Pepperell Primary School to the First Baptist Church of Lindale. It is free to participate and the lineup begins at 9:30 at the school.

Restoration Lindale, Inc. is excited to announce our 7th annual Lindale Independence Day Celebration Parade Grand Marshal is “Coach” David Jones.

According to Restoration Lindale’s Tim Reynolds, “Coach Jones is definitely a true Lindalean at heart and has Dragon Blood flowing through his veins.”

Coach Jones was born and raised in Lindale, where he graduated from Pepperell High School in 1967. He worked for Pepperell Manufacturing/Lindale Mill from 1965 to 69 in the summers and on weekends. Beginning in 1970-72 full time in the mill’s pipe shop, from 1972-74 he went on to be a construction plumber.

After that trade, he decided to go back to the mill from 1974-76 in the pipe shop, 1976-81 in the card room. David then in 1981-86 he became self-employed.

All while working various jobs in the mill he always had a love for football, kids, and the Lindale community. He went back to college and graduated from Berry and began teaching and coaching football at Pepperell Middle School in 1986. While at Pepperell Middle School in 1990 he led their football team to win the first middle school championship. This was a huge moment in his career and one that students still remember to this day.

Coach continued on teaching physical science later at Pepperell High School where he served as a football coach till his retirement in 2010.

In addition to the parade, there will also be a festival that day from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on South 1st Street featuring more than 30 vendors selling arts and crafts, and many homemade items. There will also be food, including BBQ and watermelon.

At 11:30 a.m., there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lindale World War II Memorial Wall in front of the Gilbreath Center with the American Legion Post 136 and the Restoration Lindale Board of Directors.