I remember our small town in PA going all out - the 4th was a BIG day - and an important one. My dad, who served in WWII in China, was very big on the patriotic holidays. We always had our flag up before anyone else in the neighborhood. We weren't allowed anything but sparklers and "snakes" because my dad was worried we'd be hurt. But we had sparklers and snakes galore and they seemed enough for us.

We had a huge backyard with a picnic table that my dad had built. We always had deviled eggs, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, Jell-O mold (yuk), baked beans, chocolate cake, ice cream and orange popsicles. Lots of our neighbors would come over and bring goodies to eat - eventually, it would get dark and the fireflies would come out and the grown-ups would be laughing and talking and the kids would be lighting sparklers and twirling them -

I remember the parades - the fire engines (we only had two) were decorated, the Mayor and town officials would drive by in their cars waving and hollering to friends on the sides of the street - Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts marched by, the VFW posts and auxiliary ladies - - I was a Girl Scout and it was our troop's misfortune one year to have to parade behind some horses! My three brothers got a big laugh out of that one.

My husband was in Vietnam for the 4th of July, 1970, and I spent that day phoning the local radio station. The prize (if you got through and were the 10th caller) was a tape of one hour of the show plus a song dedicated to someone. I finally got through about 4 that afternoon - I gave up the picnic and the potato salad and deviled eggs so I could be on the phone all day...dialing over and over again. Finally, I got through and I won! I was beside myself and dedicated "I Say A Little Prayer For You" by Dionne Warwick to my husband, then in DaNang. A few days later they sent me the tape and I mailed it off to him. That was a lonely 4th of July.

My husband and I divorced, but I tried to show Michael what patriotism was and what it meant - he and I went to the parades - he waved the sparklers and his little flags - He joined the Army in 1987 and one year when he was home on leave, we went to a hockey game. The opening ceremonies that most people fidget through, caused him to stand up straight and tall and place his hand over his heart - I looked at him and my own heart was full of pride to overflowing.

I now live in St. Petersburg, Florida - and the town has a "do" at the Pier with fireworks in the evening. There is no parade though and I miss that.

This 4th of July, my son is in Bosnia - and I am reminded once again, of what the 4th of July really means. I will be flying two small flags - both were Michael's as a child - and to me they represent the past and future - the large flag I fly is for the present.

My dad is gone, but his patriotism lives on in us....................