Patriotic Reflections
THE MEANING OF THE FOURTH OF JULY
On the Fourth of July, we pause to remember and celebrate the values of liberty and justice that make our country great, and to be thankful for the remarkable freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America.
The significance of this day has inspired speeches, literary works, and musical compositions. It is also an opportunity for each of us to ponder the meaning of our nation's heritage and to celebrate it in our own unique way. In addition to having you celebrate with us by watching A Capitol Fourth, we want to hear why this holiday is special to you and your family!
Special Celebrations
Many Fourth of July customs have not changed since our earliest celebrations. But some communities across the nation have developed their own traditions. For example:
- Celebrants in Seward, Alaska, take part in a six-mile foot race to the top of Mount Marathon and back. Further north in Kotzebue, Alaska, traditional Inuit contests are held.
- Since 1818, the citizens of Lititz, Pennsylvania, have spent their winters making thousands of candles so that the children of the town can light them during a special "Festival of Candles" on the night of July 4.
- On the morning of July 4, the community of Tecumseh, Nebraska, raises more than 200 flags around the courthouse as a way of remembering those who have served in our country's armed forces. Each flagpole bears the name of a man or woman from Tecumseh who has served in the United States military.
- On July 4 1976, major celebrations throughout the country marked America's 200th birthday. In Washington, D.C., 33 tons of fireworks were exploded in the sky above the Washington Monument, along with laser beams that spelled out "1776-1976, Happy Birthday, USA." In New York, a succession of tall sailing ships from all over the world sailed up the Hudson River.
