Fourth of July traditions

Hope A. Smith
Published: July 3, 2008

It’s that time of year again! One of my family’s most celebrated holidays: the Fourth of July.

In gleaning facts from the Internet, did you know that on the original July 4, the population of the United States was 2.5 million? This Fourth of July, our population, according to the Census Bureau, is 304 million. Talk about a population boom!

There are a whole host of activities that happen around the nation on Independence Day. Familiar ones include cookouts, parades and fireworks. The town of Bristol, R.I., plays host to the oldest Independence Day celebration, dating all the way back to 1785.

If you had a nickel for every roadside fireworks stand in Virginia, you could probably afford gas for a whole month! But we Independence Day junkies know where to get the really good fireworks. We used to have some “friends” that would travel up to the Pennsylvania state border and gather more than a few illegal fireworks.

Don’t get me wrong: These were handled and deployed with the safest of methods, by someone who was a “designated” handler (aka not blotto’ed).

Now here’s an interesting statement — according to Phantom Fireworks Web site, “Fireworks are illegal within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Anyone who transports into, possesses, uses or sells fireworks within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without permission from appropriate authorities is subject to criminal and civil penalties.”

I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but isn’t there a sock-it-to-me irony about that?!

In my maturing years, albeit in age and not mentality, I would not partake in such illegal activities. I’m too afraid of getting caught. But, boy, that friend of ours sure got hold of some sweet pyrotechnics.

It was always a tradition in our household — the blowout (no pun intended) of the year was always at my parents’ house on the Fourth. My mom would start cooking her famous Calico Beans early that morning. When we were kids, my brothers and I were in charge of pulling all the lawn chairs out and cleaning them, as well as cleaning up any animal “landmines” in the yard. We termed this “doody duty.”

We didn’t mind, although we grumbled a bit at the time, because we knew the payoff would be huge. Guests would start arriving as early as 1 p.m. and the last would depart around 11:30, or sometimes even later.

As adults, our parents still carried on this tradition, and started having a pig roast. The “roaster” (I don’t know what else you’d call him!) would come to the house early morning with his smoker attached to his truck. By the time we were ready to eat, the barbecue was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. By the time we brought out the cole slaw, Yoder’s famous potato salad as well as a host of other sides, we had rounded out the meal!

When darkness started to fall, usually by 9 or 9:30 this time of year, it was time to roll out the fireworks. With the fireworks came the sweet watermelon, always with a shaker of salt next to it.

Culpeper will be celebrating Independence Day in a big way as well. There will be a whole host of events, from a 5K Race to a car show, a parade, dinner and music, just to name a few.

Following tradition, there will be fireworks at 9:15. Two winning bidders will even get to sit in the “best seats in the house” — recliners from Aaron Rents — and be served dinner for the length of the show.

Whatever your tradition this Independence Day, first and foremost, remember our troops. Without them, we would not have the freedom to live our lives the way we desire.

While we are enjoying this only federal holiday that celebrates our country, our troops are in Iraq in the middle of 110-plus degree heat. Remember them in your thoughts and prayers and thank a soldier when you see one.

Hope A. Smith is an independent columnist and resident of Orange County. Her column appears on Friday.
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