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Re: Happy 4th!
Something I am very glad to share with you …. My 4th of July experience! For many years now, on the evening of the 3rd of July, we join the citizens of Ashby, Ma. for an evening of music and fellowship, where families gather at the ball field for a chicken bar-b-que, home made desserts, and ice cream or what ever and listen to the patriotic sounds of the Ashby band. While the adults sit and listen, the children play on the play ground as they await the end of the concert for the lighting of the “Bon Fire”. The fire set between 4 telephone poles, is a large stack of pallets, about 4 stories high, with an outhouse sitting atop of the heap! Raffles have been sold throughout the night for that luck winner who will get to light that fire!
When the fire is finally lit, the folks gather to watch while the fire department sprays the foliage around the fire! Fire fighters occasionally spray those in the front as some want to be cooled by the spray of the hose. A cheer goes out as the stack topples over and as the fire fades away, folks gather up their belongings and head towards home.
Well that’s where the second part of the evening comes into play. A couple towns over, Greenville, just across the border of New Hampshire border, a town of maybe 2200 people has the very first 4th of July parade each year, called the “Pots and Pans” parade! The town also has some sort of family gathering early in the evening, and at 11:30 pm as the day winds down, the town gathers in the center for the annual firework display, which at best lasts about 20 minutes.
Then as the church bells ring, folks gather along the main street, as they wait for the parade to begin. It seems as if all of the town’s population is present. At the stroke of midnight, the towns fire horns sound and up from the fire station comes a police car followed by a man dressed as Uncle Sam, waving a very large flag, on a very tall pole. Behind him is a group of people both young and old banging on pots and pans! As they pass along comes some political want-to-be, maybe a scout troop, some vintage cars, and a series of fire trucks and safety vehicles, all with the lights flashing, and sirens sounding aloud. Candy is thrown from many of the vehicles as the little ones run to catch some treats. All of this lasts about 20 minutes and then the people head back to their cars, or walk back to their homes to wait for the next 4th of July! If that isn’t patriotism, I don’t know what is!!!
Just hope EVERYONE enjoyed a HAPPY 4th!
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Smile and the world will think that you are up to something!
Steve
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