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(This entry, originally from July 2005, is reposted for Mudville's Independence Day 2006. The tradition will continue this year also.)
The Ramstein Air Base Freedom Fest
All the sights, sounds, smells, bells, and thrills of a carnival in smalltown USA - in Germany.
Entering. The security guys had orders direct from Don Rumsfeld: shoot anyone who even looked like a reporter.
House of horrors - only thing inside was a wax figure of Dick Durbin. It scared no one, though young children cried.
The vomit comet
The band in the beer tent. They were taking requests, and therefore had to play "Bombs over Baghdad" 47 times.
My kids see the artwork of the European masters up close - yet another reason I'm glad to be here.
"Your mom's afraid to ride on this." I said to the youngest hawk "it's too high."
"I didn't say I was afraid!" she vehemently protested too much, "I said I didn't trust it."
"Ohhhh..." says the young'n, "she doesn't... 'trust it'!" while making the quotation mark gesture with her fingers on the last two words.
Tomorrow: fireworks.
Update: More here
2005-07-03 22:17:02
(This entry, originally from July 2005, is reposted for Mudville's Independence Day 2006. The tradition will continue this year too.)
Something about darkness makes a carnival different.
Better.
These places are brighter in the dark...
And faster, more blurry...
And higher
In these places of light and shadow, the world Ray Bradbury saw in his mind's eye seems real, and might be waiting just a few steps into the darkness
Dark places that have a more irresistible pull
Wild things beckon, can you walk on by?
Perhaps, for it's time to light up the sky...
John Adams, in a letter to Abigail, his wife, on the Declaration of Independence:
"But on the other Hand, the Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending it.?The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished.?Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their Judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act.?This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.
"But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. -- I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
"You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not.?I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.?Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."
"...from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more"... The photos above come to you from Germany, near the border with France, at approximately the exact center of Western Europe.
And below you'll find links to July Fourth celebrations from all around the world (with more to come - this post will grow!)
Leanne from intricateart.com brings us Bombs Bursting in Air
The (Vast) Right Wing Conspiracy Jones Beach fireworks show on Long Island, NY.
Tammi's World offers a great front porch view of fireworks in a small town in Northern Illinois
The Bow Ramp brings us the 4th of July in Corvallis (with Quicktime movie of the finale.)
ArmyWifeToddlerMom had a Hometown Fourth
Lapeer Living offers lots of pictures, including Rangers, Marines, and Babies (Oh My)
Long Time Gone invites you to Party Time in Seoul Korea
Meryl Yourish spends every Fourth at Fort Lee (these are last year's pics - but she promises this years will be up soon!
Liberty and Lilly brings us The Great Anniversary Festival
More to come, including fireworks in Germany.
This July 4th the troops on the frontline won't see the fireworks they'd like, but will likely experience some fireworks they'd rather not. As you celebrate the freedom they make possible, please join us in sending images of your Fourth of July around the world. We'll post your pictures or link your photoblogging of events celebrating Independence Day in America or elsewhere - just send links or photos to greyhawk at mudvillegazette.com.
Want to send fireworks photos (and more) to the troops at the front? Contact our good friends at Soldier's Angels.
2005-07-05 17:58:18