Fireworks?
In my heart.
This 4th of July, I had the privilege of being invited to the Smithsonian to honor Independence Day.
They offered a lovely picnic with Hangar Steak with carmelized red peppers and onions; beautiful slices of chicken in a light gravy; a beautiful melange of roasted eggplant, asparagus, slight sprinkling of cheese; big full peas and jicama salad, feeling as if it was picked right from the garden… and of course desserts such as peach pie…on a stick! Just lovely.
It was held at the National Museum of American History where so much beautiful background on America is showcased. They even had the actual counters and chairs from the Greensboro lunch sit-in, where blacks courageously sat down at the counters with whites. This was in 1960 when we were not allowed to sit together. They took a stand for every individual who deserves freedom, whether from tyranny from another country — or your own community. It was quite fitting for our Independence Day.
Yet most special was our beloved flag. In the photo below, you’ll see we came together to spread out our flag, unfolding it preciously; then sang the Star Spangled Banner together.
What harmony and spirit we experienced together. Families, individuals; young, advanced; color, no color; tall, medium, short, we united in:
O say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
– Francis Scott Key, 1814
What an inspiration Mr. Key has given us. I want to thank him posthumously, and any of his dear family descendants, for what he gave us: Inspiration, Courage, and Honor for our country, and for ourselves as individuals. May we live our lives with gratitude for the freedom we have been given, every day.
Off we went to the fireworks on top of the Smithsonian… as if we were overlooking the world, all of us united in joy…
Living and Giving 