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...
