by Emma Riley Sutton

Created on: June 28, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

On July 4, 1976, I was in New York City celebrating America's bicentennial. My parents wanted to make sure I never forgot where I was and what I was doing when the country that gives me my freedom turned 200 years old. They succeeded. I have never forgotten spending Independence Day in New York.

My family and I flew into La Guardia airport the day before. The plane ride, in and of itself, was unforgettable. There were more people on the airplane than in all of Creeks Bend, my tiny southern home town. I still have package of peanuts I was given. I didn't eat them; I saved them as memento of the trip. I drank my first "Shirley Temple." I felt so grown-up, sitting in the window looking at the clouds below.

My parents had reserved a small hotel suite. The two rooms were separated by a shared bathroom as well as a sitting room. It was more like a small apartment then a hotel room - all it needed was kitchen. The suite was, as I remember it, "way up high." I looked out the window of my room and watched ants on the sidewalk that were really people. We ordered room service. I ate a cheeseburger and French fries. I also had another Shirley Temple. My dad teased me about "taking it easy" on my drinks. I thought he was concerned I would have a major sugar rush from all the soda. My eight year old mind didn't understand what he meant.

After we had unpacked, we went sightseeing. All it really was walking around the Manhattan streets close to the hotel. People walked so fast! They moved as is they were being chased by an unseen monster. There were more cars parked on the streets than had been at the dealership where my parents had bought our last new car. My mom gave me some money and I bought a hot dog from a street vendor that was standing outside a building with hundreds of steps leading to the entrance. I didn't understand what he asked me, but I nodded and gave him the money. He reached into his cart with long tongs. He then made me a hot dog with sauerkraut, pickles, onions and mushy peppers. I had to ask for mustard. He charged me fifty cents to squeeze a yellow container full of mustard on my hot dog. It wasn't enough mustard for me, but I didn't complain. I thought he would charge another fifty cents.

I thought I would be too excited from the day to sleep, but I was wrong. I was asleep early and then up with the sun the next morning. I knew we would have a lot to do that day. My parents had made a list and I couldn't wait to get started checking things off of it. We

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