by Barbara King

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: June 06, 2008

You have not truly experienced America until you have celebrated the Fourth of July in this country. It is an occasion that brings us back to our rural roots. This is the one day to celebrate what America is truly about, a melting pot of nationalities that get together to show their love for their country.

Nobody enjoys the fourth more than small town America. The day usually starts with assorted firecrackers set off by little kids in the neighborhood. Every town and village celebrates with a parade lead off by the local fire truck blasting its siren. This is followed by a stream of convertibles carrying the local veterans waving and calling out to their friends in the crowd. Next is the local high school band. The band is followed by a variety of crepe paper decorated floats pulled by tractors that still have hay clinging to the hitch. Interspersed between the floats and other high school bands are groups of children carrying flags, balloons, and signs proclaiming "America the Beautiful" and "Land of the Free".

The streets are crowded on both sides with family and friends. The elderly are sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk gossiping. Sitting on the curb are families with young children, who are constantly rushing into the street to collect the candy that is thrown from every float and group. On the corners stand the teens and twenty somethings talking smart and making noise. The parade ends about noon with a police car blaring its siren and blinking its lights, signaling the end of yet another Fourth of July parade.

The crowd disperses either to the local park where the VFW food stand is serving up hot dogs, hamburgers, and brats with or without sauerkraut or other delicacies such as dill pickles or pickled okra depending on which part of this great nation you live. Or they head for home where the family gathers in the backyard for barbecue chicken on the grill and corn on the cob. Beer, soda, and lemonade flows freely and everything is followed up with juicy slabs of watermelon.

Everyone is waiting for dark and the fireworks followed by private fireworks in individual backyards. The absolute best fireworks shows are those in large cities following concerts of Sousa marches.

Yes, from sea to shining sea, America knows how to throw a celebration!

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