It was early evening after dinner, and I was in the backyard of our home in Elko, Nevada. I must have been around 7 years old at this time, and I loved to listen to a certain song, the same listed above. I knew the words from beginning to end and would belt them out at the top of my lungs. On this particular evening I had my headphones on, listening to my walkman while swinging on our backyard swingset. As I listened to Lee Greenwood's classic tribute to our nation, I swung as high as I could, trying to touch the clouds with the tips of my toes, belting the words:
"From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tenessee, across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea. From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to L.A, there's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say...."
I'm sure that you can finish the chorus, come on now belt it out! My young girl heart didn't realize the full extent to the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States, but my heart rejoiced nonetheless. Looking back now on the celebrations of our country that I have participated in, there are a few in particular that stick out in my mind.
When we lived in Idaho Falls, what seems like only yesterday but in reality was about 18 years ago, we would celebrate the 4th near the Snake River, at the Freedom Celebration hosted by Melaleuca. It must have been either 1990 or 1991, when I was 3 or 4. I was running around Freeman park in the pre-firework celebration on the green grass. I guess this memory is so vivid because of the excitement of the occasion, all the people, the music, and of course that familiar love for country. Whatever the reason for the vivid memory, it is etched in my mind, running free around the park on the 4th of July.
A few years later while visiting my dearest Grandmother Moore in I.F. one summer, we attended the same celebration at Freeman Park. Being a little more mature, I experienced it in a different light. I remember thinking how magical the fireworks were coreagraphed to music. When my favorite song came on, by Lee Greenwood, I just knew that we were so blessed to live where we live and to enjoy the blessed freedoms that we do. Every 4th of July celebration since then has taken on the same meaning in my heart, and I am indeed proud and grateful to be an American!
Please comment on this post and share with me your favorite 4th of July, I would love to hear about it!!!
1 comment:
This Fourth of July was pretty fun. We had a great day, but unfortunatley Spencer was sick with a cold/flu and didn't feel like going anywhere with us. So we really missed him. Saturday morning was funny because I was planning on going to the parade with my three kids. But I thought that it started at 8:30. My mom at first said that she was going to swing by our house to go to the parade together, but then she mentioned she might go early to save seats. So I got up very early (mostly thanks to my little alarm clock, Alex) and I got everyone ready and we were out the door and at the parade at 8:10. I finally got a hold of my mom and asked if she was saving us a place. She said, "No, I haven't even left yet." And then she said, "Is this Rebekah?" Like she just received the shock of her life that her oldest daughter, who was never very punctual on her own but even less so with three kids, was actually early for the parade. Yeah, I should have played it cool and said nothing, but I admitted I had gotten the start time wrong. We sat by Marla and her family and Grandma Moore and some of Mike's family too. Luckily Marla had gone early to save seats. Because even being slightly early (the parade started at 9:30), there were very few remaining spots left. We had a great time. Grandma invited me to come over to her house early before the barbeque so that my kids could go swimming in the pool with Emily. Everyone was impressed that I was once again early to an event. Hehe.
For as far back as I can remember we have always gone to watch the fireworks at Freeman park. Its a fun place with rolling hills, soft green grass, and playgrouds. But the trees around the park are really getting too tall and it is difficult to see the full effect of the fireworks. It still is a fun place for the kids. I have a vague memory from when your dad and Debbie were still married and lived close to the river. Melissa and I layed in the back of your dad's truck and watched the fireworks from that house. Huh, I wonder if Melissa remembers that. We had to have been like four years old.
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