Here in Utah, all home fireworks were banned from the 4th of July Celebrations. That is such a foreign concept for this town. Provo, Utah, is known for hosting the largest Freedom Festival in the western United States. So, in order to experience fireworks of any kind, we went to the Stadium of Fire at the BYU football stadium. (Professional fireworks displays were allowed.)
Before the fireworks, we also went to the downtown parade, drove up to the mountains to hike around a beautiful natural springs and see the waterfalls, and visited with extended family that lingered from our Family Reunion. Still, without doing our own fireworks, the teenagers were a bit disappointed. They didn't even get to hike to the Y on the mountain above BYU campus. The trail was closed due to the high fire risk in our area. Too bad.
My children and their cousins of that generation were trying to recreate the fun they had had for so many years with their Grandpa Tom Lee and their fathers in hopes that their children would appreciate a similar experience. Nothing can really be the same, though. It's sad, but true.
Also, if truth be told, I have not missed the endless fireworks set off by the people living nearby me. In former days, they would have been allowed to set off big fireworks in our neighborhoods for two days before and two days after the major holidays like the 4th of July and Pioneer Day. Those antics are just too loud and nerve-wracking for me!
Before the fireworks, we also went to the downtown parade, drove up to the mountains to hike around a beautiful natural springs and see the waterfalls, and visited with extended family that lingered from our Family Reunion. Still, without doing our own fireworks, the teenagers were a bit disappointed. They didn't even get to hike to the Y on the mountain above BYU campus. The trail was closed due to the high fire risk in our area. Too bad.
My children and their cousins of that generation were trying to recreate the fun they had had for so many years with their Grandpa Tom Lee and their fathers in hopes that their children would appreciate a similar experience. Nothing can really be the same, though. It's sad, but true.
Also, if truth be told, I have not missed the endless fireworks set off by the people living nearby me. In former days, they would have been allowed to set off big fireworks in our neighborhoods for two days before and two days after the major holidays like the 4th of July and Pioneer Day. Those antics are just too loud and nerve-wracking for me!
This morning at Church we sang Patriotic Hymns and people talked of how thankful they were for the many freedoms we enjoy in this nation. We even got to sing three verses of our national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner." After hearing many loud, raucous versions sung and played last night during the Stadium of Fire concert, I was happy to sing this amazing hymn in a more reverent way.
When we moved to Maryland, one of the first places we visited was Fort McHenry in the Baltimore Harbor. During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombarding of this fort through the night of September 13-14, 1814. He was astonished that in the early morning light, the American flag was still waving over the fort. The Americans had survived and won this battle. Immediately, he penned his famous poem.
The last verse of this anthem is very powerful:
"O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
May we also be grateful that the Star-Spangled Banner still waves over our beloved Nation!
The last verse of this anthem is very powerful:
"O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
May we also be grateful that the Star-Spangled Banner still waves over our beloved Nation!
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