Celebrating our Fourth of July history
History should have been my second major in college because I thoroughly enjoy the subject. Here in the United States we celebrate many histories made by our forefathers, some good, some not so good. But we have the freedom to celebrate our history, and this weekend is one of those holidays that brings people together as Americans.
While enjoying the traditions of fireworks, hot dogs, barbecuing, parades, festivals and get-togethers, imagine how our forefathers may have felt when they drafted and approved the Declaration of Independence. If you haven’t refreshed your memory on the history of our independence, I suggest you do so, especially during this time. We are all after the same objective: to coexist in a society of acceptance and opportunity for a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and our families.
Maintaining the faith and the belief in what our country stands for can sometimes be a challenge because of our disagreements with the government and how things are done, but we are lucky to be able to express our disagreements through our freedom of speech.
Take for example, here in Merced County, what we’ve done to keep a tradition alive in celebration of our nation’s history in regards to the Fourth of July. In Atwater, the parade is one of the best-known and most popular parades in the county. Greg McDaniel, a community volunteer, has been instrumental in making sure it happens every year for the benefit of the community.
Julio Valadez of Livingston brought the Fourth of July Festival back to life there. Through his efforts and persistence to maintain the patriotism in his community and again, keep the spirit alive, Livingston has had the opportunity to celebrate and show its patriotic colors with a Fourth of July festival ... and a big one at that.It has become a win-win for all parties and an economic boost as well.
Other communities within Merced County will also be celebrating this weekend, so take your pick.It’s a positive and uplifting holiday that should be shared by all.
So it is that this weekend we, as Americans, will be the history of our great nation on the Fourth of July. When you go out to a parade, festival, fireworks display or family gathering, remember that all this comes from the history that was made many years ago by a group of individuals who fought for all the freedoms we enjoy. No matter what country you are from originally, you’ve enjoyed the freedoms of this country and have benefited as a result. It’s up to every one of us to continue the history and the celebration.
Irene De La Cruz is a resident of Planada and has been involved with a number of community events and projects throughout Merced County. She owns her own business. She attended Merced College and California State University, Sacramento. She can be contacted at dlcirenel@gmail.com.
This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Celebrating our Fourth of July history."