
NEW PEKIN, Indiana — “Oldest Consecutive 4th of July Celebration,” proclaims the banner over this small town 45 miles northwest of Louisville.
Dean Weller could see the banner from where he was sitting on Saturday morning as distant drums teased the parade. He was waiting for one man to hang a left at the paved-over train tracks and bring the first flag down Route 60. “There’s Jeff!” Weller said, standing as the town marshal’s pickup rounded the corner — a flag flying from its hitch.








