Do you remember how 4th of July used to be?

[Madelaine Amee]

Our kids grew up in a small town in Massachusetts and 4th of July was a big day back then. The Parade used to come by the bottom of our little road and we would all stand out there waving our little flags and talking and laughing with the neighbors, and the kids would be having a great time with their friends. Of course the parade was hokey, the high school girls would twirl their batons and hope not to drop one, then the boy scouts would come by, then the girl scouts, followed by our police force and the only two fire engines the town owned, and then to top off the parade we would have our local politicians driving along in open vintage cars! Such fun. Then there used to be a big chicken BBQ on the Village Green and we'd all go down for the BBQ and when it got dark there would be fireworks! Wonderful memories.

This past week I was watching TV and first there was mention of a big sale at Macy's, then another sale at so and so, and on and on. Have we really turned this wonderful American holiday into another money grubbing day?

I'm sure every generation has fond memories of when they were young, but we really seem to be turning everything into a money maker and not the day it was supposed to be, a day to celebrate our country.

[redwitch]

I only lived in two small towns in the U.S. I do remember the parade and the picnic after. Great fun!

When we were overseas, we always had a birthday party for America and invited all of the neighbors (who were usually natives of their country). I enjoyed those parties far more. There'd be a birthday cake and ice cream; whatever could be scrounged up to make a typical American 4th of July feast. Fireworks were usually easy to come by. My father would give a brief history of why this was such an important holiday to us. We'd also ask about their important holidays and birth of their nations and celebrate that as well.

I've tried to instill the love of the 4th to my daughter. Sadly, I don't think I succeeded. She sees the 4th as a day of bbqs, boating, fireworks; but misses the meaning and specialness of the 4th. The media is partly to blame. To me, I think a bigger culprit is not living in small towns. Cities and larger towns just don't seem to celebrate the 4th the way we want it celebrated -- it's a big event with a fortune spent on fireworks but none of the innocence and community participation. Hopefully, my grandson will see more of the small-town 4th celebrations living in Central Florida.

[NoMoSno]

4th of July was a big day back then. The Parade used to come by the bottom of our little road and we would all stand out there waving our little flags and talking and laughing with the neighbors, and the kids would be having a great time with their friends. Of course the parade was hokey, the high school girls would twirl their batons and hope not to drop one, then the boy scouts would come by, then the girl scouts, followed by our police force and the only two fire engines the town owned, and then to top off the parade we would have our local politicians driving along in open vintage cars! Such fun. Then there used to be a big chicken BBQ on the Village Green and we'd all go down for the BBQ and when it got dark there would be fireworks!

This is still going on in small town America.
Of course the store sales also happen.

[justjim]

In my Midwest small town we had "homecoming" every 4th at the city park. Carnival and fireworks at dark. Former residents came back to town for the fun. Lions Club was the sponsor for the celebration.

One year when we stayed in TV for the summer, I must admit that I was surprised that there was not fireworks someplace in The Villages. We drove into Leesburg for their fireworks show and celebration. It was very nice.

[NotGolfer]

There have been parades in the towns I lived in, in the midwest! Saw photos depicting them on my Facebook. The larger cities don't seem to have them, however they make a big deal with their fireworks presentations.

What I miss is the patriotism that we had while growing up in the 40's and 50's!!

[2BNTV]

We all look back to what we perceive as the kinder, gentler days of the 50's and sixties. What I remember most is the fun veterans from WWII generated, as everything after the war, was a piece of cake, and they didn't sweat anything.
A let the good times roll, type of mentality.

A drastic change for me was going to Yankee Stadium, and seeing ads on the scoreboard, during the game. I thought going to the ballpark, meant you didn't have to see the commercials, like you did while watching, your television. UGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

BTW - I love a good fireworks show. Television doesn't come close to capturing it's brilliance. IMHO

[buggyone]

We all look back to what we perceive as the kinder, gentler days of the 50's and sixties. What I remember most is the fun veterans from WWII generated, as everything after the war, was a piece of cake, and they didn't sweat anything.
A let the good times roll, type of mentality.

A drastic change for me was going to Yankee Stadium, and seeing ads on the scoreboard, during the game. I thought going to the ballpark, meant you didn't have to see the commercials, like you did while watching, your television. UGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

BTW - I love a good fireworks show. Television doesn't come close to capturing it's brilliance. IMHO

The kinder, gentler days of the '50's and 60's were not there for for minorities and women or those with disabilities.

Also, remember the Vietnam War which cost the USA 58,000 lives for involving itself in a civil war which the US had no reason to be in.

The Freedom Riders who died in America trying to achieve civil rights should be remembered as heroes on Independence Day.

[KathieI]

Awww, you guys, you make me feel so bad. It must have been so nice to live in a small town instead of a big city.

In the Bronx, there weren't any parades or picnics in the park, we were lucky if we had a tree on the street. All I remember of that day was shooting of fireworks from dawn to midnight and the noise was deafening. Maybe if we were lucky, a family member who was lucky enough to have a house would invite us over for a BBQ, just to get away from the noise.

Guess I always wanted to live or experience small town living, but that never happened.

Happy 4th and Buggy, that was a great post.

[2BNTV]

The kinder, gentler days of the '50's and 60's were not there for for minorities and women or those with disabilities.

Also, remember the Vietnam War which cost the USA 58,000 lives for involving itself in a civil war which the US had no reason to be in.

The Freedom Riders who died in America trying to achieve civil rights should be remembered as heroes on Independence Day.

:agree: Not looking for argument. :smiley:

What I meant was that we all sometimes look at days when we younger, fondly.

I didn't purposely use the term, "the good old days" as those days had problems, just like at any other time.

Where was "the good old days", in the old west, when people died at the age of 31? No running water and bathroom facilities? Health conditions, left a lot to be desired. We all live much longer today. :smiley:

[Patty55]

Awww, you guys, you make me feel so bad. It must have been so nice to live in a small town instead of a big city.

In the Bronx, there weren't any parades or picnics in the park, we were lucky if we had a tree on the street. All I remember of that day was shooting of fireworks from dawn to midnight and the noise was deafening. Maybe if we were lucky, a family member who was lucky enough to have a house would invite us over for a BBQ, just to get away from the noise.

Guess I always wanted to live or experience small town living, but that never happened.

Happy 4th and Buggy, that was a great post.


Aw c'mon, 4th of July in the BX wasn't all bad. All of us kids got sparklers to burn ourselves with, then my cousin taught us how to amuse ourselves by going up to the roof and throwing them.:evil6:

[Cisco Kid]

:agree: Not looking for argument. :smiley:

What I meant was that we all sometimes look at days when we younger, fondly.

I didn't purposely use the term, "the good old days" as those days had problems, just like at any other time.

Where was "the good old days", in the old west, when people died at the age of 31? No running water and bathroom facilities? Health conditions, left a lot to be desired. We all live much longer today. :smiley:

You don't have to look for one here. It will find you.:loco:
We would all go see the fireworks out side of the park,
Dad did not like the crowds. Park a few miles away, in a 49 Hudson Commodore
I have nine siblings .We packed the car full. I always go car sick.

[CFrance]

We had a cottage at Madison-On-the Lake, Ohio. There was a park in the middle of the little town where the fireworks were set off, and we would all go down and put up seats to save our spots! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

[buggyone]

We had a cottage at Madison-On-the Lake, Ohio. There was a park in the middle of the little town where the fireworks were set off, and we would all go down and put up seats to save our spots! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!


That is funny how things come in full circle, isn't it?

[KathieI]

Aw c'mon, 4th of July in the BX wasn't all bad. All of us kids got sparklers to burn ourselves with, then my cousin taught us how to amuse ourselves by going up to the roof and throwing them.:evil6:

So true, Patty,,, we were really very bad. Remember putting those cannonball firecrackers inside a tin can and having it explode and the can flying through the air. LOL.. Yes sparklers, they were fun. I hated when mine didn't light and all my cousins were showing off their sparklers... boo hoo... The noise started at dawn and didn't end until 1 or 2 am. We even set our own fire works in the middle of the street and shot them higher than the apartment buildings. It was fun, a bit crazy too.

[Taltarzac725]

Sonoma 4th of July Parade 2012 - YouTube (http://youtu.be/TFfP_51sY4E)

We went to a couple of these old fashioned parades around Rohnert Park, CA when we lived there. I kind of liked the bigger parades in larger cities myself more. Always got a hoot at how the parents would explain the Mustang ranch (float or perhaps) car in the Reno/Sparks parades to their kids. http://youtu.be/wNBbFU3zk18

[DonH57]

As a kid I can't recall how we experimented combining various different quantity of firework types and we still had all our fingers and toes. The fourth of July is one of the times I still wish I had a ground burst simulator like we used in the service for military exercises. Those were the best bang for the buck.

[Patty55]

So true, Patty,,, we were really very bad. Remember putting those cannonball firecrackers inside a tin can and having it explode and the can flying through the air. LOL.. Yes sparklers, they were fun. I hated when mine didn't light and all my cousins were showing off their sparklers... boo hoo... The noise started at dawn and didn't end until 1 or 2 am. We even set our own fire works in the middle of the street and shot them higher than the apartment buildings. It was fun, a bit crazy too.

We would put cherrybomb firecrackers inside my mother's pink hair rollers and see how far they would go.

Then we moved to Long Island and had to act normal.

[rubicon]

The Declaration of Independence was and remains the single most important document ever created by human kind not only for this nation but globally wherein many countries have made attempts to emulate its content.

It is a sad state of affairs that some Americans seem bent only complaining about this nation rather than remembering what our founding fathers created. Yes we are not perfect but this nation is the best the world has ever seen

[Taltarzac725]

The Declaration of Independence was and remains the single most important document ever created by human kind not only for this nation but globally wherein many countries have made attempts to emulate its content.

It is a sad state of affairs that some Americans seem bent only complaining about this nation rather than remembering what our founding fathers created. Yes we are not perfect but this nation is the best the world has ever seen

Declaration of Independence - Text Transcript (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html)

Yes, great ideals expressed here. They are ideals though. Something we strive for but more often than not do not reach. http://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/fascinating-facts/

[buggyone]

The Declaration of Independence was and remains the single most important document ever created by human kind not only for this nation but globally wherein many countries have made attempts to emulate its content.

It is a sad state of affairs that some Americans seem bent only complaining about this nation rather than remembering what our founding fathers created. Yes we are not perfect but this nation is the best the world has ever seen

I have always wondered why the wording of "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" were in the Declaration of Independence when slavery was legal in America. Slaves were the property of other people and did not enjoy liberty or the pursuit of happiness.

It was not until the 1960's and the passage of the Civil Rights Act that we saw equality in writing - and still not in practice for many years afterwards in many places.

[CFrance]

I have always wondered why the wording of "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" were in the Declaration of Independence when slavery was legal in America. Slaves were the property of other people and did not enjoy liberty or the pursuit of happiness.

It was not until the 1960's and the passage of the Civil Rights Act that we saw equality in writing - and still not in practice for many years afterwards in many places.
... slaves and women.

[asianthree]

everyone came to my grandparents house..much food made ice cream and sparklers for later...

[eweissenbach]

Still happenin'! We live just outside a suburb of Kansas City, Smithville, a town of 8500. On Friday morning we went to the town square to watch a kids parade, which included our twin three year old grandsons. The mayor spoke, the kids marched, prizes were awarded, and all the kids got red, white, and blue bomb pops. There was a barbeque picnic that afternoon, and fireworks at night. Love Midwest small town life.

[CFrance]

Still happenin'! We live just outside a suburb of Kansas City, Smithville, a town of 8500. On Friday morning we went to the town square to watch a kids parade, which included our twin three year old grandsons. The mayor spoke, the kids marched, prizes were awarded, and all the kids got red, white, and blue bomb pops. There was a barbeque picnic that afternoon, and fireworks at night. Love Midwest small town life.
The same thing happens in Frankfort, MI, (population 1300) a town on Lake Michigan where we kept our boat for a few years. Big parade, including firetrucks, police cars, floats by various groups, antique cars, candy thrown--you name it--goes down Main Street, with BBQ in the park afterwards and fireworks. One year it rained, and the parade was called off. But it stopped raining, and the parade participants decided to do the race anyway. But they did the route backwards. BIG FUROR!!!! It was in the daily news, and shopkeepers and townspeople were all abuzz about it the next day.

[OBXNana]

In our neighborhood in PA, the kids decorate their bikes, most have out flags, and people still go out on their front yards to watch the kids go by in their decorated red, white, and blue bikes. A rather low key event, but fun for all involved.

We just got back from our trip to The Villages with the grand kids. They had a ball decorating the lamp post and golf cart with red, white, and blue. We saw quite a few flags on our street. July 4th isn't lost in The Villages. Just no big events.

[buggyone]

Did you tell the grandkids the history of Independence Day? It is never too early to let them know what freedom from a foreign power means. Also, as they get older and can understand more, what the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 meant for the USA.

Patriotism is not just putting an American flag on your golf cart. It also means living up to the words on the Statue of Liberty. If those words mean nothing now, the statue should be taken down and destroyed.

[OBXNana]

Yup. We have several Patriotic books that deal with each level of their ability to learn. Flying the colors is visual for a child and how they equate best in the early years. Words become the next step in understanding. The two work extremely well as early as age one or before.

[Villages PL]

When I was a little kid in Bridgeport CT. they had a big parade on the 4th. of July. In the evening they had a huge fireworks display at Seaside Park, over the water.

Most likely we had a cookout during the day with hotdogs 'n' hamburgers but I don't remember that part. At that time we were all young and health was not an issue. And, anyway, no one knew that much about the harm of eating grilled beef products. :o

[eweissenbach]

We had a cottage at Madison-On-the Lake, Ohio. There was a park in the middle of the little town where the fireworks were set off, and we would all go down and put up seats to save our spots! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

When I was a little kid in Bridgeport CT. they had a big parade on the 4th. of July. In the evening they had a huge fireworks display at Seaside Park, over the water.

Most likely we had a cookout during the day with hotdogs 'n' hamburgers but I don't remember that part. At that time we were all young and health was not an issue. And, anyway, no one knew that much about the harm of eating grilled beef products. :o

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm grilled beef products! :mmmm: