It seems that even though June 20 th is the first day of summer it is really the 4 th of July that sky rockets it off. We have just about every small town in America and many large cities pay homage to that wonderful day of Independence for our great country. We have parades, picnics, baseball games, carnivals, fairs, barbeques and much more to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and our freedom from the domination of Great Britain .
I suppose in earlier days it had more meaning then than it does now. It seems today that it is just another paid holiday and I am sure if one took an average American street poll asking the question, "What was the original reason for the 4 th of July?" that many people could not give you an accurate answer.
In my small corner of the world it is a day of small town celebrations of family and friends meeting in the center of town to watch other family and friends take part in the annual 4 th of July Fireman's parade and then go on to their other activities of the day.
I hope the celebration this year in 2008 will trigger some thoughts about the freedom we are allowed in this country and the need to protect that freedom, not only abroad but here by voicing our grass roots concerns to our politicians who often forget that we put them there to represent us and not themselves.
Let's keep America free and celebrate our 4th of July with true meaning and remembrance.
Painting by Arlene Wright-Correll titled, " Bonnieville, KY Parade, 2007"
