America’s spirit of service on display at event

Kristin Bedford

ARCHDALE — At a time when national conversations can often feel divided, the Fourth of July celebration at Creekside Park in Archdale on Saturday, July 4, 2026, reflected something different: Unity of purpose.

What people most likely did not notice was the extraordinary effort taking place behind the scenes to make that evening possible by the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

While families sought relief from the heat beneath trees and tents, the men and women responsible for public safety spent hours working in extreme temperatures wearing more than 30 pounds of protective equipment and gear. 

Temperatures throughout the day easily felt like they exceeded 100 degrees in direct sunlight, yet many remained at their posts long before the fireworks began and well after the crowds went home.

Their work deserves recognition.

“The true success of an event like this is that families can simply enjoy themselves. That level of public safety takes planning, teamwork, endurance and a tremendous amount of dedication from everyone involved,” said Capt. Tim Coats of the Archdale Police Department.

Police officers maintained crowd safety and managed traffic in sweltering conditions throughout the event. Guil-Rand Fire Department personnel oversaw fireworks safety operations while remaining prepared to address any fire-related emergencies. 

Archdale’s EMS teams stood on standby to provide medical assistance if needed, while emergency management personnel coordinated planning and logistics. The city’s parks department employees also worked tirelessly to prepare and maintain the grounds for the thousands of visitors who attended the celebration.

Randolph County CERT volunteers could be seen across Creekside Park wearing reflective safety vests, assisting attendees, helping manage traffic flow in the park, supporting emergency services personnel, and serving as extra eyes and ears throughout the crowds. 

“Their presence served as a force multiplier, allowing our officers to remain focused not only on keeping the event safe but also on continuing to serve the broader community,” Coats said.

Successful public events happen because people are willing to stand in the heat, direct traffic, answer calls for help, monitor crowds, prepare for emergencies and serve complete strangers.

Like first responders, CERT volunteers spent the holiday away from their own families so others could safely enjoy time with theirs.

“Our volunteers go wherever they are needed so emergency responders can focus on critical responsibilities,” said Brad Soper, Randolph County CERT Program Manager. “For this event, we had 14 volunteers log over 160 hours of their time.” 

This collaborative effort goes unseen because the best public safety operations are the quiet ones. No headlines are written when emergencies are prevented, traffic moves smoothly or families safely return home at the end of the night.

But those outcomes matter.

Celebrations honoring America’s 250th birthday, like the one held in Archdale, remind us what patriotism looks like at the local level. It is not only found in fireworks or flags, but in service, sacrifice, and neighbors working together for the good of their community.

That spirit represents the very best of America.

■ Kristin Bedford is a member of Randolph CERT. 

About Randolph CERT

Randolph Community Emergency Response Team (Randolph CERT) is a volunteer organization sponsored by Randolph County Emergency Services that helps support local emergency preparedness, disaster response, and community events. Through training in disaster preparedness, communication, and public safety support, Randolph CERT volunteers work alongside first responders to help strengthen community resilience throughout Randolph County. Learn more or sign up to volunteer at https://www.randolphcert.org. Follow us on Facebook.