And I’m Proud to be an American

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Most everyone across the nation dresses up in red, white, and blue to celebrate the nation’s birthday. It’s a day filled with parades, barbeques, fireworks, and friends. No matter who you are, you can’t help but have a sense of pride on this special day. Being that this was my first time celebrating this grand holiday in Saratoga, I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the locals. For this “small” town, and I use the word “small” loosely, it felt as if everyone was out this Fourth to celebrate the nation’s 235th birthday. Although we heard suggestions to go to Lake George for the day or Albany, we decided what better way to spend this notorious day, then in the town where the Battle of Saratoga was fought- a major turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Our day started out like most where my family and I joined others along Broadway to watch the Fourth of July parade. We arrived early not knowing how many people would be there already, and were surprise to find lots of great spots. We ended up, however, in the shade in front of Uncommon Grounds. There we sipped on some coffee and ate some breakfast pastries while waiting for the parade to begin. Although considerably smaller then ones I’ve seen in Atlanta or Jacksonville, this one had a great small town feel as parade goers threw candy, stickers, and whatnots from their floats. One of the best aspects of the parade, in my opinion, was when Sloppy Kisses passed by with their procession of adorable dogs dressed in red, white, and blue. It ended shortly after where everyone then proceeded to Congress Park. There, vendors were starting to set up for a day of excitement and contests. Unfortunately we weren’t able to stay too long due to my son falling asleep in our wagon. Later that afternoon, with a child much more conscious, we spent the holiday like most Americans, and barbeque with our friends. It was a great afternoon of celebration, laughs, slip-n-slides, and more- more being a food fight with a few leftover cupcakes. And even though it rained, it never stopped the husbands from playing volleyball as there was a torrential down pour. As the evening started to set and the storms started to pass, our plans to return to Congress Park for fireworks looked more and more bleak as our two-year-old started to fall asleep eating his dinner. Leave it to us to be American and never give up, and with our son in bed, we watched the fireworks from our backyard. And as this day wrapped up, I couldn’t help but sing to myself one of my favorite songs, Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A.

All and all, it was a perfect Fourth of July. Next year, hopefully our son will stay more alert during the downtown Saratoga festivities. But as every parent knows, there is no point fighting a sleepy child. I hope those reading this had a wonderful holiday and I like to thank all the soldiers past and present for fighting for our freedom. We wouldn’t be here today without y’all! Happy Birthday America!