red white and blue flowers currently hanging on our porch
The Fourth of July was always my favorite holiday. The city I grew up in had a Grand Parade every year - they still do, it's just a lot harder to get to now since you have to stake out your spot days in advance. It was a day that started with the parade, usually involved a barbeque, perhaps some swimming, definitely watermelon, and ended with fireworks.
The parade was the most exciting event. Always complete with mayors, horses, clowns, beauty queens, soldiers, marching bands, a rolling cannon (though scary when they stopped in front of you to load it and shoot it off), but the best part of all was when you would see all the people along the parade route start to rise, take of their hats and place their hands over their hearts as the flag went past. Even just thinking about it still gives me goosebumps. My first inklings of patriotism began at those parades. I felt an allegiance to my country and a unity amongst my fellow parade-goers/citizens, a feeling that I still respect anytime we all stand together in honor of the stars and stripes and what they represent.
The parade was the most exciting event. Always complete with mayors, horses, clowns, beauty queens, soldiers, marching bands, a rolling cannon (though scary when they stopped in front of you to load it and shoot it off), but the best part of all was when you would see all the people along the parade route start to rise, take of their hats and place their hands over their hearts as the flag went past. Even just thinking about it still gives me goosebumps. My first inklings of patriotism began at those parades. I felt an allegiance to my country and a unity amongst my fellow parade-goers/citizens, a feeling that I still respect anytime we all stand together in honor of the stars and stripes and what they represent.
4 comments:
here's hoping more people feel those goosebumps this year!
we're gearing up for our "grand parade." i've already felt the goosebumps!!
I think they are outlawing the camping out days in advance thing. At least I heard a rumor that they were. We can only hope.
That's kind of cool about your getting your "first inklings of patriotism began at those parades". I tend to avoid crowds, so that usually means parades too but maybe I should take my kids so they know what they are and can feel the excitement and a bit of patriotism. Hmmm.
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