I have friends who live in Gurleyville, an old village in town with a crossroads where a tavern stood. They gather at one of the homes, people read poems, excerpts from documents important to them and the country. Then have a short parade. Low key.
The next town south has an intersting celebration of the 4th. A boom box parade. https://www.thechronicle.com/news/american-boom-iconic-parade-to-mark-america-s-250th/article_2ac4ad7e-5696-44a6-8545-66f3825d5390.html
My town does have a parade, for Memorial Day, followed by a ceremony at one of the cemeteries. It’s not a celebration, but a gathering none the less to reflect on community, service, loss. The scouts place flags at veterans graves, the middle school and high school bands play, proclamations are read, stories of service man and women are told by those who served with them. It’s very moving.
@IcooIey Gurleyville as in Mansfield?
@bookworks yep!
@IcooIey If you’ve lived in that area for a while, you may remember the Mansfield Depot restaurant. Met my hubby there.
@bookworks We ate there a few times before the fire, delicious food. Are you still in the area? or were you a student?
Jul 4, 2026, 1:19 AM@IcooIey
This seems much more patriotic than making as much noise as a war zone to "celebrate" and seemingly worship a flag, instead of what makes a country a country (people, many kinds of people).