Guns were fired and bells were rung.

On Wednesday, Charleston’s Morton Park was the epicenter of Independence Day commotion, and despite the sweltering summer heat, hundreds of people bravely took on the scorching sun, all for the city’s Red, White & Blue Days celebration.

As the final floats of the day’s parade slowly returned home, the attention of festival-goers turned to the annual bell ringing ceremony.

Each year, members of the Red, White & Blue Days committee select a person or organization to honor during the ceremony, choosing this year to pay homage to the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Girl Scouts from across the state flocked to the festival as tribute to the 100th anniversary of the group’s founding.

Whether 6 or 60 years old, the Girl Scouts gathered around Morton Park’s bell, draped in brown sashes and green patches.

As the voice of the festival’s emcee blared across the park’s speakers, thanking the Girl Scouts for “making the world a better place today,” Scouts of all sizes smiled proudly.

“Today, Girl Scouts from the past, present and future are gathered to honor a century of community service,” the emcee boasted.

First, the ceremony commemorated “Girl Scouts of the past,” allowing two older women to ring the park’s bell.

Next, “Girl Scouts of the present” gathered, pulling the long blue rope attached to the bell.

After three thunderous rings, the rope was severed.

However, the distance between the festival’s main stage and the park’s bell made such knowledge impossible to the emcee, who then called upon the “Girl Scouts of the future” to ring the bell.

Unfortunately, those rings would never come—on the grounded end of the rope, all that remained were two saddened children, their hopes dashed.

Despite the hiccup, the ceremony continued.

Following the honoring of the Girl Scouts, members of the Charleston Color Guard raised their guns, unloading three shots into the stale summer air.

As Blue Moon Swamp, a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band, quietly took the festival’s main stage, festival-goers directed their attention to the American flag hanging over the park’s bell.

Three men sang a rendition of the National Anthem as attendees quietly paid respects on the 236th anniversary of America’s independence.

Following the ceremony, the festival continued in its earlier bustle.

Kent Macy, of Charleston, said he was disappointed by the hiccup in the ceremony, and said it was sad that the young Girl Scouts were unable to ring the bell.

However, Macy said his disappointment was alleviated by listening to Blue Moon Swamp.

“I was here for the parade and bell ringing and decided to just stick around for the band,” he said. “I used to be a big Creedence fan, and I have to say they’re really good. I’m impressed.”

Eric Huddlestun, who owns and operates the festival’s kettle corn stand, said though sales from Wednesday hardly compared to those of the night before, plenty of people had stopped to buy from his stand.

Huddlestun said he sells kettle corn, soda, water and shaved ice, and that he has donated all proceeds to the Central Christian Church in Charleston since last year, when he first started selling at Red, White & Blue Days.

Last year, Huddleston said he made enough to pay for the church’s mission trip to Minnesota and hopes to make similar profits this year.

As for his highest-selling item, Huddleston laughed—“In this weather, it’s not hard to sell shaved ice.”

John Downen can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].