Ella Whistler and Jason Seaman lead the Noblesville Fourth of July parade

Show Caption Hide Caption See student Ella Whistler and others honored at Noblesville Fourth of July parade Noblesville West Middle School student Ella Whistler, teacher Jason Seaman and others appear in the Fourth of July parade after the May school shooting.

The survivor and the hero.

That is who the people who traveled from around the state and lined the streets of Noblesville during the city’s annual Fourth of July Parade hoped to get a glimpse of while celebrating the birth of the nation.

The parade not only served as student Ella Whistler’s first public appearance since bullets tore through her Noblesville West Middle School classroom little over a month ago, it also provided community members another opportunity to thank teacher Jason Seaman for stepping in and keeping the carnage from spreading.

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The student survivor and the hero teacher led the way as grand marshals of the parade Wednesday afternoon. For many, their presence on Independence Day gave all who took part in the celebration another reminder of the strength and resilience that makes America truly great.

“This really is what this country is all about. Forget all the things people do to tear each other down every day … we’re at our best when we lift each other up. We just have to always remember that,” said Sabrina Carlton, a Kokomo resident who made the trip to Hamilton County to show her admiration for the two people wounded in the May 25 shooting.

Carlton watched the parade alongside friends all wearing the #NOBStrong t-shirts that include the No. 91, a nod to the uniform number Seaman wore as a football player at Southern Illinois University.

“I just want to be here to show Ella that we are all with her and praying for her. And I wanted to show (Seaman) that we will never forget what he did," she continued. "He did something that took incredible strength … something superhuman.”

Standing ovations for Ella Whistler and Jason Seaman as they lead the #4thOfJuly2018 parade in Noblesville pic.twitter.com/Ty61aDoD9u — Justin L. Mack (@justinlmack) July 4, 2018

The excitement was palpable throughout the city once the guests of honor arrived.

Ella, her neck in a brace and her right arm in a sling, smiled and waved from the back of a red Jeep Wrangler. Seaman, wearing an American flag tank top and a big smile, offered thumbs up and fist pumps while sitting on the back of a blue Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

As they passed, crowds rose from their lawn chairs and presented the pair with applause. Others snapped pictures and shed tears of joy to see them standing strong in the wake of the shooting.

Marching alongside Seaman's vehicle was 13-year-old Devin McAtamney, one of Seaman's students and Ella's classmate.

He and the rest of Seaman's science class walked in the parade wearing #NOBStrong shirts to show the grand marshals that they've still got their backs.

"I just think it's amazing that our community is doing this stuff for us," Devin McAtamney said. "To Mr. Seaman, thank you for saving our lives and for saving Ella's life too. And to Ella, good job on being so strong and pulling through all this."

Devin's parents, Frank and Kim McAtamney, were equally grateful for Seaman's actions and Ella's toughness.

"We're just proud to be part of the Noblesville community," Frank Atamney said. "We're happy that he was there to protect our children."

Noblesville students walking in parade today. “When I say Seaman, you say Superman. When I say Ella, you say strong.” #nobstrong #noblesville @indystar pic.twitter.com/V1hvqCVuKr — Jenna Watson (@JennaRWatson) July 4, 2018

Seaman, who recently finished his fourth year teaching at Noblesville Schools, serves as a middle school football coach and has been a track and field coach.

Ella, who will be an 8th-grader this fall, performs in the school’s choir and show choir.

The parade also included special appearances by Noblesville West Middle School Nurse Megan Schlueter and Noblesville Police Officer Michael Steffen, the school resource officer. They rode in the parade between Ella and Seaman in a while Jeep Wrangler.

To end the parade, the Noblesville Fourth of July Planning Committee invited all Noblesville West Middle School students, parents, teachers and staff who wished to walk to participate.

The unity on display Wednesday was heartwarming for Katelyn Maudlin, a Noblesville native preparing to enter her sophomore year at Ball State.

A former student at Noblesville Schools, Maudlin marched in the parade with the Hamilton County Moms Demand Action group. She said she wants to do everything in her power to make sure that incidents like the shooting never happen again.

"It was obviously such a tragedy what happened at West, but it's kind of amazing to see the way that everyone has kind of bonded together to try to bring about positive change," she said. "Everyone has always said that Noblesville is a bigger town that feels like a smaller town, and you can really see it these past few weeks after everything that has happened."

The trial for the 13-year-old boy accused of shooting Ella and Seaman has been postponed until September after originally being set for late June. The fact-finding hearing, as the trial is known in juvenile court, is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 10.

The trial will be open to the public unless closed by court order.

Unclear is what motivated the shooting, what happened in the classroom and where the suspect got his weapons. A trial, with cross-examinations on both sides, would likely answer many of those questions.

The suspect is accused of shooting Whistler and Seaman with a .22-caliber handgun, according to court documents. He also had a .45-caliber handgun and a knife.

IndyStar is not naming the suspect because he is not being charged as an adult.

Seaman was shot three times, according to family members, and Whistler was shot seven times.

Hamilton County Prosecutor D. Lee Buckingham said that if the boy were an adult, he would have faced 11 counts, including two felony charges each of attempted murder, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.