Fourth of July is a great holiday. After all of the festivities were concluded, I stood outside of my house and began to listen to the fireworks still resounding throughout the neighborhood. I do this nearly every year. I listen to the far away “booms” and occasionally catch sight of some of the lights that are produced. I am reminded of how it might have been been for Francis Scott Key. While he was on a mission for the release of a mutual friend, he was held captive during the bombardment of Fort Henry. He saw the lights and conflict and when the battle was over, he noticed that the flag still waived in the sky. He was so awe inspired by the event that he wrote The Star Spangled Banner.
I listened and watched to the symphony in the sky and realized that this holiday accomplishes, for me, exactly what it is supposed to. I am reminded of the conflict. The fireworks begin to even more resemble the gunfire that occurred during the battle for our country’s independence. After all the smoke and explosions, my mind then begins to take value in our country. I start to appreciate what we have here and find new (or renewed) respect for the courage and wisdom of our fore-fathers. This whole experience is the closest I can get to the Revolutionary War and all of its implications. That is part of the magic of history. Our predecessors did not know the outcome of their conflict. We, however, know what happened and how it happened. The problem with this magic is that it is easy to take for granted what we have. That is what this holiday is all about. The Fourth of July, Independence Day, is our chance to realize an appreciate what we have in our great country. We have multiple freedoms, one of which is the freedom to have fun with our families. And that is just what we did yesterday.
Here is just some of the fun events that were taken part in:
