George Kendrick Organizes His Final Fourth of July Parade

After 16 years of organizing Arbutus' Fourth of July parade, George Kendrick, 90, will be retiring after this year's patriotic display, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Kendrick told the Sun that he did not want to end his involvement with the parade, but his body told him otherwise.

"If my eyesight was good, I'd never give it up," he told the paper. "My age would never stop me, because age is just a number. ... I give this up begrudgingly."

Since the race began 31 years ago, Kendrick has been organizing the annual Arbutus Firecracker 10K race. This year, the race begins at 8 a.m., the morning of the parade on July 4.

The parade and festivities were estimated to cost up to $37,000 in 2012, Paula Wolf, of the Arbutus Business and Professional Association, said.

Read more about Kendrick's retirement on the Baltimore Sun.