Community Chat

[golding76]

Perhaps some of you remember this moment in time as fondly as I do.  We were in the Washington, D.C., area for the Bicentennial -- picnicked on the National Mall and then sought a cooler area around Great Falls, VA.  There are photos capturing us wearing Uncle Sam hats and big smiles.

Later, we watched the National Mall's fireworks display from Gravelly Point.  We didn't want to deal with the enormous crowd on the Mall.

Below is the front page of The Washington Post of July 4, 1976.  The image was part of an interesting article, and I thought some of you might enjoy seeing this front page from way back when.  Of course seeing it reminded me of my life and times of that era.  It was a lovely remembrance of times past.

[Oznell]

Love seeing that, thanks for posting, @golding76 !   You're right, it's a true artifact, stirring many memories....

[CalmInHeart]

The 200th was so different from the 250th. The 200th was full of joy, life, freedom, and real patriotism. That's not the case today. 

[Group 5 minus 1]

I lived very near Philadelphia in 1976. My younger son had an opportunity to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence . He was not quite 6 years old. I still have that photo I took. 

[We rescue cats]

I remember that so well! It was certainly an exciting celebration! Loving the celebration this year as well, realy wish I have the fortifude to go to DC for it!!

[Blondie59]

It was quite a different time with no social media, no internet, no 24 hour news cycle.  Much simpler.  I'd love to see the fair in DC as well, @We rescue cats.!  It looks like great fun.

[Mom2Dogs]

@CalmInHeart I have a lot of patriotism and joy.

[Cakers3]

@Mom2Dogs

Thank you. I almost posted the same sentiment.

Despite what some are going through, there is always time to try and make life better for others. Therein is one source of happiness.

Patriotism does not end after this weekend. Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots and all that.

[Eileen in Virginia]

We were newlyweds in 1976 and lived in North Jersey. My in-laws had friends who had a house on the Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River. They were hosting a Bicentennial bash that we attended. The tall ships were anchored in the Hudson and we watched President Ford board one (maybe it was the Constitution?) for a dedication. He had just come from Pennsylvania, where he participated in the ceremony in which Valley Forge State Park became Valley Forge National Park under the U. S. National Park Service. It was a great day!

[Sooner]

I miss the Bicentennial Minute.  And I miss Johnny Carson making jokes about it.  It was a huge deal back then.

There are things better about life now, and it wasn't all puppies and rainbows then either.  Life was hard in other ways then, times are different, and so much of life is what we make of it.  

We had home made ice cream and burgers and relatives in and shot a lot of fireworks in the driveway.  People behind us shot fireworks last night getting a head start!