Happy July 4th!

[Thomas Kearney]

(07-04-2015 08:58 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Dave gave an excellent talk on the Garrett family several years ago at the Surratt conference. I have already lined up four of the speakers for 2016, and have invited a fifth - a member of this forum - who has yet to give me a definite confirmation (despite two emails and one PM asking for a decision). If that member doesn't get off the stick and contact me, Dave may have an opportunity to speak again!

Seriously, the theme for 2016 is "Lincoln Assassination Studies: New Faces - Fresh Perspectives." As you can tell, we're trying to bring a new generation into the spotlight.

I'll be there! When are the dates?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Have a safe trip and great time, Thomas!

(07-04-2015 06:11 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  

(07-04-2015 04:48 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(07-04-2015 02:43 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  

(07-04-2015 12:29 PM)HerbS Wrote:  ThomasK.It is too bad that you never got to read it!

I just downloaded it on iBooks to read while in the car to Mt. Rushmore. I wish I read it when my parents wanted me to.

Thomas, if I understood/remember correctly, you live somewhere nearby DC. How long will it take you to get to Mt. Rushmore by car? Will you visit other sights along the way, took

I leave Tuesday and expect to arrive in Keystone (The town Mt. Rushmore is in) on Saturday. I plan to visit the home of James A. Garfield, Indiana Dunes, The Wisconsin and South Dakota state capitols, and the Green Giant statue in MN.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I hope y'all had a great holiday! May I ask - despite the fireworks, is there a traditional way to spend/celebrate the day? Are there other events? Are the fireworks private or publically organized? What would most people do? Are stores allowed to open?
Many thanks for educating me!

[RJNorton]

On our block many more homes fly the flag than normally. Many organizations had fireworks shows. My favorite baseball team wore special hats for their game. We had a cookout in the backyard and had bratwurst. Some home owners put on their own fireworks shows.
Some people dress in patriotic shirts, etc. Most stores everywhere were open with lots of sales. Some cities have Independence Day parades. I am sure others can think of more than what I have said here.

[KateH.]

Most celebrate 4th of July with family parties and barbeque and some choose to do nothing. It depends on the person. As Roger wrote, there are lots of flags flying and people tend to cover themselves in red, white, and blue everything.

Smaller events (some with no fireworks) can be hosted by both big cities and small towns. Port Royal hosted one yesterday. It was a collaboration between the town vendors and Historic Port Royal.

Fireworks are legal to buy in some states. Maryland is one of them so there are firework stands everywhere. Shows can be organized both by the public and by private organizations. Some people make their own displays. When I was little, a neighbor set off fireworks for everyone on the street. Then there are towns that hire people to create something grander and then there are huge televised productions in cities that are staged by professional, include celebrity performances, and can last for hours. New York, Boston, and D.C. are the main ones.

Some stores choose to open and some choose to close. It depends on the business. Sometimes smaller, privately owned businesses close. There is no mail delivery.

[RJNorton]

Where I said, "Most stores everywhere were open with lots of sales," it probably would have been more accurate to say that lots more stores are open on holidays nowadays than when I was younger.

[L Verge]

Kate - my neighbors may agree with you about fireworks being legal in Maryland 'cause they were setting them off all around us last night until midnight. However, they are not really legal in all of Maryland. See below:

Fireworks are part of Baltimore's July 4th celebrations, but what fireworks are legal in Maryland?

The answer is not too many. Unless part of a public display (approved by the local fire department), most fireworks are illegal in Maryland. In these counties, there is an outright ban of all consumer fireworks.

Baltimore City
Prince George's
Montgomery

However, sparklers containing no chlorates or perchlorates, and ground-based sparkling devices that are non-aerial and non-explosive are permitted in most of the rest of the state.
Typically this includes “gold label” sparklers, “snap-n-pops,” “black snakes,” and “Champagne party poppers.” The sale of sparklers to persons under the age of 16 is illegal.
These counties and municipalities ban ground-based sparklers:

Harford County
Howard County
Ocean City

Sparklers (both hand-held and ground-based that are legal according to Maryland state law) are allowed in Baltimore County. Possession and/or use of illegal fireworks in Maryland could mean confiscation and fines up to $250.

Now, how strictly the codes are enforced is another topic. We have a police station less than a mile from our neighborhood, but those fireworks kept on going. It sure beat tackling the traffic to get downtown to see D.C.'s national display. Worse yet is trying to get out of D.C. when the fireworks have ended!

[Jim Page]

I'm glad Laurie posted that, because Kate's email had confused me. I haven't seen fireworks offered for sale, but I live in Prince George's County and work in Montgomery County. So my roaming around is limited to those two counties, generally speaking.

For those who would like to see a nice event, see if the PBS show "A Capitol Fourth" is available on the Web. Here's the official site, which has snippets of prior shows:
http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/home/

I was doing my usual weekend guitar playing last night, but we stopped and spent an hour watching that show on a big screen TV with a great audio system. I love to see the crowds on the Capitol grounds, especially the younger kids.

--Jim

[L Verge]

Take the American History Quiz on that site that Jim just posted.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you so much for all your replies! This is so interesting to me as so different! I cannot imagine shops open on any holiday as well as on our national holiday the flag to be flown on any other than public buildings - most people completely ignore the occasion except appreciating the day off.
Kate, IMO you look much better than Lucy Hale, great photo on Dave's site!

[KateH.]

Laurie, thank you for correcting me. I had seen at least four pop-up vendors that appeared to be selling actual fireworks so I assumed they were legal to purchase. It would be great to see the D.C. fireworks in person as the event looks like so much fun on TV. Though it would probably be better to stay the night instead of trying to leave with the crowd.

Jim, sorry for confusing you.

Eva, thank you

[HerbS]

Picnics,music,town fireworks,parades,people watching,icecream,nature and being with friends are some of my favorite things to do on the 4th of July!

[Eva Elisabeth]

That sounds wonderful, Herb!

[HerbS]

Thanks-Eva!We all had a fantastic time enjoying the 4th of July this year!

[L Verge]

(07-05-2015 04:23 PM)KateH. Wrote:  Laurie, thank you for correcting me. I had seen at least four pop-up vendors that appeared to be selling actual fireworks so I assumed they were legal to purchase. It would be great to see the D.C. fireworks in person as the event looks like so much fun on TV. Though it would probably be better to stay the night instead of trying to leave with the crowd.

Jim, sorry for confusing you.

Eva, thank you

Kate - When I was a child, my mom and dad would take me to the Capitol steps to watch the fireworks. As a teacher, our school was known for its partying faculty, and one of the places we would park to see the fireworks was along the capital beltway just before crossing the infamous Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Virginia. We would not dream of stopping there now. If a car didn't get you, an 18-wheeler surely would!

As a young wife and mother, we would picnic and spend the day and evening on a strip of land very near Reagan National Airport (just National Airport in those days). If I could afford it, I have always wanted to rent a room in the top floors of the grand old Willard Hotel and watch the fireworks display from there.