A Claremont 4th of July

You know, there is something about those smaller hometown 4th of July celebrations that the bigger ones, the kind that have become, for all intents and purposes, tourist attractions just can not match. We the People of Claremont were more than ready to get out and celebrate this morning. We shoved down what ever doubt about future directions of the country, or protested them (and honestly, when you think about, what could be more American than protesting on Independence Day), put on our best patriotic clothes, hats, antennae, sunglasses, shoes, decorated our bicycles and scooters, rubbed elbows with our elected officials and neighbors at the Kiwanis' pancake breakfast, settled in for the parade, cheering as Little League All-Stars, civic organizations, churches, school marching bands and other musical groups entertained us up and down the street we named Indian Hill. We listened patiently and courteously at the T. Willard Hunter Speakers' Corner, as fellow residents spoke their minds, even when their words may have run contrary to our own beliefs. From there we moved on to where civic groups and organizations had booths set up where we could learn, first-hand, about their mission and accomplishments over the past... well, three years now. There was music and lunch fare and ice cream and snow cones, Uncle Sam on stilts was back again and as popular as ever. True, the activity area with its dunk tank, Scout-constructed rope ladders, and other games were still MIA, but people made due with frisbees, and balls, played at the playground, swung on the swings (thank goodness Memorial Park has room for one of those old time swing sets with the chain and belt seats - they always will be the best), or just sat in the shade, talking, reminiscing, relaxing, waiting for the evening concert. Go ahead, drive to Huntington Beach for the 4th - maybe everyone should experience that once. For my part, though, I'll hop on my bike and ride the couple miles into town where I can join with my neighbors for a hometown 4th of July.

There are a lot of photos here as it is, but you can find even more (if you're on FB in this album).

there was quite a line for pancakes, fortunately the local Kiwanis Club was ready and able to serve (along with sausages, coffee and orange juice)

as usual, the parade was led out by the kids' bike brigade (bolstered by an assortment of scooters)

a red, white and blue kind of day

the All-American kid, and...

trailing a line of All-American cans. Heck yeah!

everyone's Uncle Sam on this day

the city council got on their bikes

maybe that's who left those paw prints I rode across the other day

Granite Creek always get into the 4th, this year they even brought in an intergalactic band to entertain

I've never spent a whole lot of time at the T. Willard Hunter Speakers' Corner, but think every town should have one on the 4th - where else can anyone get up and say whatever is on their mind in a public setting? Jennifer Stark speaks her mind

we all scream for ice cream?