The Celebration of Independence Day

Independence Day Celebration

Independence Day is celebrated locally on July 3 with a parade at 5 o’clock in the early evening and fireworks later in the evening.

Last year was the first time we went to the parade. We discovered that very few people actually march in this parade…almost everyone rides…on a horse, on a float, in a carriage, in or on cars (Miss this and Miss that usually sit on the windshields of a convertibles). It was not like Fourth of July parades of which I am used to seeing (maybe, that’s the problem…it’s an Independence Day parade and not a Fourth of July parade). Any way, it was fun.

ROTC color guard. Lots of horses. Hardy’s Star, Ronald McDonald, local dignitaries, candidates for local, county and state offices. Lots of candy thrown to the youngsters. The various Miss this and Miss that. Something from many of the local business (car dealerships, banks, pooper scooper, etc.) Quietest parade I have ever seen--NO BAND!

This year one morning not long ago at the Masonic bi-monthly breakfast to which we have become regulars, Mike (SD) asked if anyone had flags that could be used on their float. They were also going to use signage of important Masons in American history (G. Washington, P. Revere, B. Franklin, etc.). Well, Miss Molly’s has been selling early American flags for years and let them borrow some. They had their own fifty star and the MIA/POW flags. Miss Molly had 12x18 inch service flags, along with fifty star US flags of the same size. We let them use several 3x5 foot flags which encircled their float.

The Betsy Ross flag with its thirteen five-pointed stars was in the front left of the float. Betsy may or may not have designed the flag, but probably did sew on that original banner as her husband was on Washington’s staff. Washington had wanted a six pointed star as he liked the look and symmetry of it. But, Betsy and her gang (sometimes, I call them Betsy Ross and the Supremes) thought that was too much sewing, so they used a five-pointed star instead starting the traditional. She lived in Philadelphia. This was first used officially on June 14, 1777.

On the right was the Bennington flag—tradition says this was created by Molly Stark of New Hampshire. Her husband John was a Colonel in the Continental regulars (later General). The Continental Congress’ resolve read:

"Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.”

Well, Molly Stark started her flag with the white strip (seven white, six red). She apparently did not mind the extra sewing and created a seven pointed star. She also did a little “gingerbreading” by adding “76” in its field of blue to honor the year that independence was declared. It was called the “Bennington Flag” as it was used at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont. [This flag is special to me as Steve had an ancestor that fought at this battle under Colonel Stark.] Used from 1777 in the Northeast.

[This flag was not used by the Masons, but I like to talk about it].

Star Spangled Banner. The only official flag of the USA containing more than thirteen stripes. It contains fifteen stripes along with the traditional appropriate number of stars, added when Vermont and Kentucky were admitted to the Union. At that time one strip was to be for each new state, but when the next four states were added, it was decided that it would be too cumbersome. Francis Scott Key gazed upon this flag when he composed his poem that would eventually become our National Anthem. Early 1800’s.

Don’t Tread on Me (yellow). One of several DToM flags, this bright yellow flag with a rattlesnake is known as the Gadsden (Mr. Gadsden was from South Carolina). It was an early Marine Corps flag and flown as a ship jack on some of the early pre-revolution and continental ships. The rattlesnake, representing the Colonies (and later the thirteen states) was first used by Benjamin Franklin in 1851 in one of his publications. The flag, as it is, is believed to have first flown c. 1774.

Florida State Flag: The cross of St. Andrew in red on a white background contains the State seal representing the land of sunshine, palm trees, rivers, flowers, lakes. The seal includes the sun, a cabbage palmetto, a steam ship, a Seminole woman scattering flowers. Adopted 1899.

The float also flew a thirty three star flag. This was the flag flown over Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the War Between the States in April 1861. A state’s star is added on July 4th after it became a state. Kansas had become a state, but her star was not added until July 4, 1861. West Virginia became a state in June 1863. Her state was added July 4, 1864. So, throughout the Civil War (aka War between the States, War of Northern Aggression, and a few other names), there were three official United States of America flags.

The Masons won third prize for their float. Congrats to them. Great pic in local paper with flags flying proudly.

Good small town enthusiasm and fun!

Just before the parade ended and the horses were marching nicely, the skies opened up.  We had one of our typical Florida gully-whommers.  Too bad the rain did not stay away for another fifteen minutes.  But, no one seemed to be particularly disheartened.

Very enjoyable parade. I did not make it to the fireworks. It rained at our house, but did not affect the booming and banging (It can rain on one side of the road and not the other in these here parts.)