Shim Lacy had the Manteca Youth Focus float ready for Monday’s Independence Day parade in a nick of time.

Not that she was ever worried.

She’s the long-time volunteer of the non-profit organization responsible for the annual selection of local youth ambassadors who become recipients of scholarships while attending dozens of community events. That includes, of course, the City of Manteca’s Fourth of July. Lacy, who received a helping hand from Lillian Ohnmacht, had the work done in near clockwork manner.

“I’ve been doing this for about 15 years,” she said, arriving to the parade starting point at North Main Street and Golden West School at 7:30 a.m.

The parade was sponsored by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis.

According to parade chairman Brian Mills, nearly 50 entries were part of this year’s event. Categories consisted of patriotic, athletic, novelty, auto antique, military, civic, youth, equestrian, and Gatka Dal Sikh.

Gatka is a weapon-based marital art with ties to religion Sikhism.

Ca Gatka Dal also took part and placed first in the Manteca Christmas Parade.

As for the Fourth of July, the event kicked off with the Veterans of Foreign Wars leading the charge.

Not too far behind was grand marshal Tevani Leotard acknowledging the parade goers while riding in a silver blue convertible driven by Jeff Liotard.

The annual Independence Day procession also included the entries from the Stockton Field Aviation Museum, Merrill Gardens Living Center, Sunrise Kiwanis, Dance and Cheer Stars, Cub Scout Pack 461, the Manteca Masonic family, Give Every Child A Chance, SHARP volunteers, Big Valley Seniors, Happy Wheelers, Manteca Red Hat, Anderson’s BMX race team, and the Horsemen’s Association, to name a few.

For those attending, most of the prime locations to view the parade route were scooped up by the early birds.