Celebrating the 4th of July, 2012

In 1775 Thomas Jefferson began early drafts of the Declaration of Independence and on July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was approved and a democracy was born.

Not unlike so many Americans who gather with their families and friends to celebrate that independence and freedom, the families of Starr's, Giles' and Goodrich's met together at Lanny and Arlene's and celebrated with a barbecue, activities and fireworks. We were fortunate this year in that most our family in Washington was able to be here.  Before we describe the events of the 4th, lets deviate for a moment and take a pictorial tour with Gary and Hiromi to view the presidents on Mt. Rushmore.  I understand that this is where some like to celebrate the 4th.  

Mount Rushmore is one of the most popular national memorials, symbolizing freedom and democracy in America. The Monument features the faces of four United States Presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln – carved in granite by the late sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, with each chiseled face as tall as a 6-story building.

The 4^Th has come and gone and I hope everyone had a good time.  We have several videos showing some of the activities which went on during our time together. 

Gary, Hiromi and family arrived a day early and spent the evening with us. The next day Giles' family arrived, after celebrating the 4^Th in their town and running in the Fun Run. Stefanie, Olivia, Micah and Liddell I believe ran. Stefanie beat her last year's record,which made her day. Larry, Richelle,Alex and Willy made an entrance soon after. Philip had spent the night here to be with his cousin Shogo. They are both good at the Game Box so were up a good part of the night challenging each other. Grandpa Lanny had given the two of them explicit instructions to raise the flag at 5:00 in the morning. I was quite surprised to see the flag had been hoisted on the pole out front early the next morning. So the day began with the American flag in all it's glory flying above our house. We are thankful to enjoy the rights to fly the flag, to give our allegiance to it and to the country for which it stands and for our freedoms and liberties.

Fort M'Henry

I was reading the story on how the American Anthem came to be, and it is a very touching story. It deals with the American flag of 1812 and the attack on Baltimore. The words to the song "The Star Spangled Banner" was written while Francis Scott Key and Colonel John Skinner, who had gone out to rescue a friend, were being held on a British frigate, "Surprise." They were held until the attack was over.

"The major attack started in heavy rain on the morning of September 13th. Just under three miles in the distance the three men caught glimpses of the star-shaped fort with its huge flag - 42ft long, with 8 red stripes, 7 white stripes and 15 white stars, and specially commissioned to be big enough that the British could not possibly fail to see it from a distance. In the dark of the night of the 13th, the shelling suddenly stopped. Through the darkness they couldn't tell whether the British forces had been defeated, or the fort had fallen.As the rain cleared, and the sun began to rise, Key peered through the lifting darkness anxious to see if the flag they had seen the night before was still flying. And so it was that he scribbled on the back of an envelope the first lines of a poem he called Defense of Fort M'Henry:

O, say can you see, by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

But finally the sun rose, and with intense relief and pride he saw that the fort had withstood the onslaught ...

Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Stefanie had made red, white and blue dipped strawberries which looked so yummy, I had to restrain myself from indulging. To my dismay I noticed the empty plate on the cupboard a little while later! The kids played;  some hadn't seen each other since Christmas, and they helped, and the adults talked and busied themselves with preparation of the food. Tables were washed off and moved out under the shade of the Ponderosa and Blue Spruce trees; hamburgers and wieners barbecued, potato swirls and onions were cut, dipped and deep fried. (see video) Gary and Hiromi brought watermelons and chips, and together
with that and freshly picked raspberries, pickles, jalapeno peppers, and soda pop, we had an
all American meal, sort of. Pies were served later. 

In the evening Larry provided the smaller girls with some sparklers.  You know kids and sparklers.  I even remember when a was a child waving the sparklers, sometimes one in each hand, trying to make curly cues and fancy designs in the air.  In that respect things haven't changed much. When it had begun to get dark we loaded up the vehicles and headed for downtown Moses Lake to watch it's grand fireworks.  We have a favorite spot on top Division Hill and on the left side, where we have viewed the fireworks for years.  To our dismay the
area was roped off, but we were able to line up chairs and sit on the sidewalk just a couple of feet below where we usually sat.  The young ones gathered on a blanket to the right of us, and had their own party.

Zachary Van Brunt, CBDH

There were individual fireworks going off consistently for the next 45 minutes and then the night sky really lit up with dazzling and spectacular lights and vibrations that shook the atmosphere.  I thought for a moment I saw a "Smiley Face" which was unique but then wondered if I was imagining things, but others saw it too.
 
We arrived home to yet another firework display. Larry set one up on the front lawn and those who were there and awake gathered around to watch the sky light up again. Being in close proximity to the fireworks, the bang was reverberating.  Willow, our old dog would have been under the bed, but Izzie didn't hide. I believe the kids have seen quite wondrous displays today.  Grandpa Lanny and I wish you a Happy 4th of July week and as far as our sentiments toward what this day represents, we suggest that we hang onto that feeling. Enjoy the videos.