‘Howdy, y’all’: Stepping Stone’s Fourth of July program brings Texas spirit to Tyler
Published 5:30 am Friday, July 4, 2025
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With flags in hand, Stepping Stone students march proudly during the school’s Independence Day festivities. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Some of the youngest marchers at Stepping Stone School took the ride in wagons pulled by teachers during Thursday’s Independence Day event. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Kathy Matthews, 2024 Ms. Texas Senior Classic, sings during the Fourth of July program at Stepping Stone School Thursday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Veteran Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Smith, who served 31 years as a field artillery officer including deployments in Desert Storm and Afghanistan, and was stationed in Korea, Germany, Ft. Riley, Kansas, and Ft. Carson, Colorado, spoke at Stepping Stone School’s Fourth of July event Thursday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Sgt. David Applewhite, a former U.S. Air Force Commander and Coast Guard veteran who served in Vietnam and was stationed in Cedar Creek and Lake Flotilla, was introduced at Stepping Stone School’s Fourth of July event Thursday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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The Smith County Sheriff’s Department deputized students Kaiden Smith and Annabelle Newbaur during Stepping Stone School’s Fourth of July celebration. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Students, teachers and families gathered for Stepping Stone School’s annual Independence Day program Thursday in Tyler. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Stepping Stone School’s Fourth of July program Thursday featured music, marching, and patriotic celebrations for students and families. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Reigning queen Susie Stevenson, 2025 Ms. Texas Senior Classic, greets attendees at the Stepping Stone School Fourth of July celebration in Tyler. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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A student offers a quiet moment of prayer during the invocation at Stepping Stone School’s Independence Day program. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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This year’s Fourth of July program at Stepping Stone School featured the lively theme “Howdy! Happy 4th of July, y’all!” (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Young patriots from Stepping Stone School take part in a lively Independence Day march Thursday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Smiling with excitement, a Stepping Stone student enjoys the school’s annual Fourth of July festivities Thursday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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The annual Fourth of July march brings together Stepping Stone School students for a fun and patriotic celebration. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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A Stepping Stone School student smiles brightly during the Fourth of July celebration Thursday in Tyler. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Decked out in red, white, and blue, students celebrate the Fourth of July with music and movement at Stepping Stone School. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Little ones at Stepping Stone School hold hands during the Fourth of July celebration Wednesday in Tyler. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Stepping Stone School’s executive director Camille Brown, left, and program coordinator JoAnne McMeans, right, share a moment during the school’s Independence Day program. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Reigning Ms. Texas Senior Classic Susie Stevenson smiles during the Stepping Stone School Fourth of July event. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Not yet walking, these little ones at Stepping Stone School were safely pushed around the schoolyard in a crib by their teachers during the Fourth of July event. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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A student from Stepping Stone School joins her family following the school’s Fourth of July march. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Children at Stepping Stone School parade in a loop around the schoolyard Wednesday during their annual Independence Day program. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Rev. Marcie Hamilton pushes a wagon of Stepping Stone School students at the annual patriotic parade. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Young students at Stepping Stone School take part in a patriotic march during the school’s Independence Day celebration Wednesday. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Decked out in red, white, and blue, students celebrate the Fourth of July with music and movement at Stepping Stone School. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Students at Stepping Stone School wave American flags during the annual Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday in Tyler. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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A student at Stepping Stone School ties a yellow ribbon during the school’s annual Fourth of July celebration in Tyler. Yellow ribbons are often used to show support for members of the U.S. military and symbolize hope for their safe return home. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Rev. Marcie Hamilton, left, and Kathy Matthews, 2024 Ms. Texas Senior Classic, sing the National Anthem at Stepping Stone’s annual 4th of July program. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Smith, left, and Sgt. David Applewhite salute during the National Anthem at Stepping Stone’s annual 4th of July program. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Stepping Stone School held its annual 4th of July program on Thursday for the families of students. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
A gentle overcast kept temperatures mild Thursday, making it an ideal backdrop for Stepping Stone School’s annual Fourth of July children’s parade. This year’s program embraced the festive theme, “Howdy! Happy 4th of July, y’all!” with students dressed as ‘dudes’ and ‘darlins,’ sporting bandanas, cowboy hats, and big smiles.
“We decided for our annual patriotic children’s parade for Stepping Stone Preschool that this year we would do something a little bit different,” said program coordinator JoAnne McMeans. “So we put a little Texas spin on it.”
The annual event, organized by Stepping Stone School in collaboration with Prestige Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care, has been led by McMeans for nearly 20 years.
“It’s a day to be proud of our country and remember that freedom is a gift to be cherished,” said executive director Camille Brown, who founded Stepping Stone School in 1968. The school is one of the oldest early childhood education programs in East Texas.
The program began with opening remarks and greetings from McMeans, followed by the presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance led by a local Boy Scouts Troop.
The National Anthem was sung by Kathy Matthews, 2024 Ms. Texas Senior Classic, and Rev. Marcie Hamilton, teacher and minister at Stepping Stone, who also provided the morning’s invocation.
The organizers took time to teach the students proper flag etiquette, including how to treat the American flag with respect and ensure it never touches the ground. As part of the continued lesson, the ‘dudes’ were taught to remove their hats and place their right hands over their hearts as a flag passes by in a parade, and the ‘darlins’ were instructed to keep their hats on but also place their right hands over their hearts.
The program also included the explanation of the meaning behind the yellow ribbons tied around trees and posts throughout the event. The ribbons were used to honor those serving in the military and to show hope for their safe return home — a tradition dating back to wartime as a symbol of support and remembrance.
McMeans recognized veteran Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Smith, who served 31 years as a field artillery officer, serving the Desert Storm and Afghanistan. He was also stationed in Korea and Germany, Ft. Riley in Kansas and Ft. Carson in Colorado.
Sgt. David Applewhite was also introduced to the event. Applewhite was a U.S. Air Force Commander and Coast Guard who was stationed in Cedar Creek and Lake Flotilla. He served in Vietnam as well.
Janette Leggon was also mentioned but could not attend. According to McMeans, Leggon was a Navy photographer who photographed late President John F. Kennedy, and participated in the Eisenhower Parade.
Also in attendance were members of the Tyler Police Department and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies ceremonially deputized two older students, Kaiden Smith and Annabelle Newbaur, in recognition of their patriotism during the program.
Reigning queen Susie Stevenson, 2025 Ms. Texas Senior Classic, spoke to the students and their families as well. “I thought this was wonderful,” she said. “We taught them about flag manners, how much we love and respect our country and how freedom is not free.”
After the program, in front of their families, the youngsters of Stepping Stone School — both those walking and not-yet-walking — marched around campus with their teachers for the patriotic parade.
“I wanted the children to realize that the Fourth of July is more than parade and fireworks and picnics,” Brown said. “It is a happy reminder of the courage and the determination that it took to make this country what it is today.”
About Jennifer Scott
Multimedia reporter and animal lover on the education beat. I am an Alabama native with a bachelor's in journalism from Troy University. I've been married to my college sweetheart since 2012, and we have enjoyed living in East Texas since moving up from the Houston area in 2021. We love all things Disney and dogs!
Please send me story ideas or questions to jennifer.scott@tylerpaper.com.
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