Speaking Personally: Change on the Fourth of July?

   Take it from this transplant, there are few things more inspiring than an old-fashioned Fourth of July parade in the Ozarks. Independence Day in Willow Springs blew me away the first time I saw it, and it has never stopped being anything short of thrilling. 

 

   Many of my readers will know that I spent a year teaching in France right after college. Aged 22, I left with a one-way ticket. I expected to find my home in the French countryside among the proud agrarian people, crusty bread, ancient churches, and ennui. It was not to be. Before I left, I was drinking red wine on my balcony and singing the Star-Spangled Banner in a loud and absurd fit of homesickness. 

 

   The feeling I crossed an ocean to find was not “over there.” It’s on display every Independence Day on Willow’s Main Street. May I never take for granted feeling choked up as the high school band plays “God Bless America,” or blinking back tears as our veterans salute the flag. Small town patriotism is a kind of delightful, collective madness we all indulge in. It’s an honor to record it for these pages. 

 

    This year, the celebrations stretched all day. It’s the first time I’ve seen that. Adding a community picnic in the afternoon added a festival air to the day and gave folks, kids in particular, somewhere to go before the fireworks. 

 

    Half-price day at the pool was a nice touch. Kudos to the City of Willow Springs for that. 

 

    Not personally immune to the fear of change, I admit I was slightly uneasy about the day’s overall itinerary. The picnic began immediately after the patriotic program at the Star Theatre. 

 

    For sixteen years the patriotic program, this year called The Spirit of 1776, has taken place immediately following the parade. Those who chose to attend or participate in it could not arrive at the community picnic at noon. 

 

    Although I initially had some anxiety about possibility of the veterans who were to be honored at the Star would stand in the back of the food line on America’s birthday, my fears were unfounded. The groups who collaborated to put the food together moved efficiently. By the time I arrived after the program at 12:45 p.m., there was no line at all. 

 

   As with any new (or renewed) tradition, there is room for improvement. For instance, I might suggest the picnic booths to be closer together or more clearly marked. I nearly missed the sno-cone booth. Overall, however, the picnic what exactly was it was meant to be – a natural extension of the parade and patriotic program. It was a great idea, and I hope the organizers and volunteers do it again next summer. 

 

   I have a neutral opinion of the reversed parade route. I hear from organizers that line-up was safer. Do you have an opinion about the Fourth? I would love to hear it. Consider a letter to the editor, or submit a Thumb to editor@howellcountynew.com.