Fourth of July -- Martinsville, IN

Fourth of July – Martinsville, IN

July 4, 2010

The Fourth of July usually marks the halfway point of summer, the crux, the pinnacle, the apex if you will. Corn is supposed to be knee-high by this time, as the saying goes, but I believe it got to “knee-high” weeks ago. Our celebration is not unlike everyone else’s: firing up the grill, inviting friends and family over, sitting outside in the heat, entertaining all the kids, and later that evening, we’ll all go somewhere to watch the fireworks display.

The Fourth is a celebration marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence (from Great Britian) on July 4, 1776. Actually, the legal separation of the original 13 Colonies took place two days earlier. Even though some of the noted signers wrote that all the members signed on July 4, most historians have concluded that it was more likely that it was signed nearly a month later on August 2. It’s also interesting to note that the only signers to become president (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) both died on July 4, 1826, the 50^th anniversary.

Observances occurred as early as the one-year anniversary with 13-gun salutes, dinners, toasts and fireworks. Massachusetts was the first state to recognize the day as a state holiday. The term “Independence Day” didn’t occur until 1791. In 1870, Congress made the Fourth of July an unpaid federal holiday, but in 1938, they changed it to make it a paid holiday. New York City holds the country’s largest fireworks celebration, with over 22 tons of fireworks exploded! The Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous celebration in the United States. And as my dad always has to watch every year, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has marked the obsession with engorging yourself with food in Coney Island in Brooklyn, NYC since 1916. And of course (one of my favorites) the Boston Pops Orchestra has performed annually since 1973.

As a kid, we would always go to Martinsville’s display at the Jimmy Nash City Park. I really think it has one of the better displays. And the people cheer. It’s really fun, actually. This year, we sort of turned on a wrong street, and ended up camping in some guy’s side yard and watching it from there. We couldn’t see the ground displays, which are usually impressive from what I remember. But the aerial displays were lovely.

We took our kids for the first time to see a large display, and they loved it. My four-year-old daughter was finally OK with it, and my younger son is a fearless one-year-old, so he loved it all. It always amazes me the different shapes and colors they can create in fireworks. They had a new one this year that I haven’t seen, and it somewhat resembled a red worm crawling down through the sky.

Even though I’m an adult now, fireworks still puts me in awe. I can’t help but watch. Perhaps I’m no different than any average toddler or a house cat, how twinkling sparkling things catches my attention. (Although, I prefer sparkling things set in platinum or silver bands, size 6, please. But I’ll also accept chest-length necklaces or 7” bracelets.) Or perhaps, this is one of the few holidays where there is no religious, racial or ethnic affiliation involved. We are all drawn together in celebration based on geography – we’re all Americans – no matter what we look like; no matter where our ancestors came from; no matter what spiritual paths we take; no matter how big or small our bank accounts are; no matter what side of the railroad tracks or street we live on. We come together to celebrate the independence of our nation. It definitely has its faults and could be better, but it’s not a bad place to live by any means. I love it here. No matter where I go in the world, I’ll always be an American.