[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]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by buggyone

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.

Not looking for argument.

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.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[Cisco Kid]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

Not looking for argument.

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.

You don't have to look for one here. It will find you.
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]

Originally Posted by 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!!!!!!!!!!

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

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by Patty55

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.

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

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