Sparks, Sweetness and The Spirit of ’76: Remembering Our Independence Days
By Shawn Wyble
Submitted to Corner Post
There's just something about Independence Day that can pause and move the soul, isn't there? Even as the calendar pages turn and August advances, the echoes of the summer celebrations linger. Often simply called "The Fourth," it's vital we remember it's more than just a date; it's a profound marker of our nation's birth. Generations truly need to learn and understand the history of our unique form of government, the Declaration that created it, and the Constitution that guides it.
When I was a young boy, Independence Day for my family was less about grand parades and public fireworks displays. Our family of seven would pack into the station wagon to spend the day with relatives spanning three generations. Under the backyard shade of huge pecan trees or massive oaks, the adults would settle into a circle of chairs. Remember the folding aluminum kind with colorful woven webbing? The adults might talk about what was news on TV or in the papers, but more often it was about what was going on in their community: who died, who gave birth, and who fell on hard times.
They retold stories about funny things that happened since they last got together. They shared morals and jokes. My youthful cousins and siblings would reconnect through games of tag, hide-and-seek, three-legged races, sack races, or simply throwing a ball. Eventually we’d join the adults’ circle to rest on the laps of our ancestors. We might sometimes roll our eyes at stories they told, but we listened and laughed. Perhaps there was a deeper importance to our gathering, as a cultural theme took shape. All this offered a well-deserved day off to pause, reconnect, and reflect.
The host site changed from year to year. Fun and food were always a shared affair: grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, or a bubbling fish fry, potluck dishes, homemade ice cream, pies, cobblers, and watermelon created a feast that fueled our long summer days. The watermelon, oh my! It took multiple melons to satisfy everyone in attendance. We’d sprinkle a bit of salt on each slice, the juice running down our chins, its sticky sweetness was a pure taste of summer.
A few of our elder relatives, usually reserved and mature, would surprise us children by turning into playful cut-ups. One memorable great-aunt, bless her heart, had her own special way of joining the fun. Aunt Maline would deftly squeeze slippery black watermelon seeds between thumb and forefinger, launching them at us with surprising accuracy – a silly, playful skirmish that always ended in giggles. Then, her sister, Aunt Esther would toss firecrackers just close enough to make us yelp and leap. It was pure, shocking delight, and somehow, no one ever got hurt – a testament to surprising aim, or perhaps just dumb luck!
Back then, I'd never seen a professional fireworks display; our pyrotechnics were all backyard affairs. My siblings and I often turned our fun into a "penny rocket war." Hiding behind cardboard boxes, we'd aim makeshift launchers – sometimes just an empty Coca-Cola bottle, sometimes PVC pipe – and let loose miniature missiles. The air would fill with the acrid scent of gunpowder and lingering smoke – a fragrant signature of a day well spent, even if the money spent literally went "poof!" up in smoke.
Speaking of gunpowder, I remember one incident that shook me to my bones, or more accurately, my molars. My friend Vincent and I were at his house, messing with some old gumball-sized fireworks we found in his parents’ garage. These weren't the little paper poppers of today that snap when you drop them on a hard surface. These were more powerful, but stubborn, taking more than minor contact to explode. So, we'd whack them with a hammer. The bang was mighty.
Later that night, as Vincent's mom dropped me off at home, I absent-mindedly reached into my pocket for a candy. Instead, I popped a gumball sized “ordinance” into my mouth and bit down. BANG! A deafening report echoed inside my head. I stood there, stunned, my mouth agape, smoke curling out, ears ringing. My family saw it all through a window, and thankfully, there was no damage. Just a vivid lifelong memory!
My appreciation for fireworks now leans towards the grandeur of professional pyrotechnics, a common thread connecting Americans across our vast landscapes. While the core elements of food and fireworks remain, the flavor of celebration shifts with the scenery. I've been fortunate to experience these gatherings from the majestic backdrop of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, down to the sunny beaches of The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America. I've even seen sparks fly at a demolition derby and rodeo in the Sandhills of Nebraska, and savored a Chesapeake Bay blue crab boil under fireworks.
I've seen patriotic celebrations in the Rocky Mountains and the Smoky Mountains. One of the most symbolic markings of the annual date was the two weeks immersed in the quiet grandeur of Yellowstone National Park. In all these diverse locales, WE THE PEOPLE gather, celebrating our union. As John Adams envisioned, this day is truly celebrated nationwide with fireworks, a universal language of joy and patriotism.
I recall one magnificent afternoon picnic and concert in Denver, with my newlywed wife and my in-laws. As the sun set over the Rockies, Lee Greenwood performed his iconic song, "God Bless the U.S.A." As he finished, a massive fireworks display erupted. It was a breathtaking moment, deeply connecting the beauty of our land, the spirit of our music, and the explosive power of our freedom.
More and more, when I gather with family for Independence Day, I try to steer our thoughts for even a moment, to its profound significance. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson and his committee laid out a bold idea. They dared to declare that our rights come from God, not from men, and therefore, no man can take them away. For me, three vital ideas emerged from that declaration: first, a government where authority rests with citizens; second, the goal of "a more perfect union" (not perfect, but with room for improvement); and finally, our forefathers gave credit to "our Creator," emphasizing the divine source of our unalienable rights.
Years later, with great deliberation and a study of all forms of government past, from ancient civilizations, they gave us a Constitution to protect our rights, so eventually we could expand those rights to end slavery and grant suffrage, advancing ever closer to “a more perfect union”.
That idea – the very concept of a self-governing people – was much more explosive in its time than any fireworks display. It lit a fuse setting off a revolution that, thanks to the unique character and individual spirit of early Americans, worked out very differently than the French Revolution, as Alexis de Tocqueville wisely observed.
The simple joy of those backyard gatherings, the sweet taste of watermelon, and the thrill of fireworks were about more than mere fun. They were about the relationships – the people – that formed the backbone of our lives, just as WE THE PEOPLE form the backbone of our nation. That sweetness of watermelon finds its parallel in the sweetness of our freedom. Though we sometimes find ourselves on different sides of political discussions, we truly have far more in common as Americans than we have differences, and working through those differences is a testament to our strength.
As Barack Obama once said, "What makes us American is not what we look like, or where our names come from, or how we pray. What makes us American is our adherence to a common creed that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will." This timeless truth reminds us that our collective strength lies not in any single leader or government, but in the enduring spirit and unity of its citizens. That's why it's so important that new generations understand the history of this day, not just as a day off, but as the day a nation asserted its right to self-governance.
So, as we reflect on bright memories, let’s remember the spark of independence, the sweet taste of freedom, and the joy of simple family gatherings. May it remind us all of the extraordinary gift of being American, and the enduring values that hold us together, generation after generation. Looking ahead, the grand 250th celebration of Independence Day in July 2026 offers a unique opportunity.
Consider planning a trip to patriotic destinations like Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Boston's historic Freedom Trail, Plymouth, or Colonial Williamsburg. Washington D.C. also boasts a wealth of museums and historic sites. Yet, for many Americans, the most meaningful destination will be their own backyard, surrounded by friends and family. Because ultimately, it is WE THE PEOPLE, together, who truly embody the spirit of this remarkable nation.
