Independence Day 2026

 Happy Independence Day

Wave a flag, shout for joy, enjoy the flash, bang, boom of the fireworks--even if they are only on TV tonight. 

I hope those who are traveling made it to their destinations without incident. 

Those of us not traveling are hopefully happy to be where we are. 

Last Fireworks over Elkridge House
Elkridge, MD
July 4, 2022

It is hot in much of America today. Too hot to be comfortable. Be mindful of the temperatures if anticipating in outdoors activities and stay hydrated.

I used to host my own fireworks display in Maryland. It was a lot of fun and a definite memory builder.

I remember the Independence Day fireworks in my hometown of Ithaca, NY. We used to go to Cornell University's football stadium, Schoellkopf Field, for the celebration. It always seemed that the entirety of Ithaca, NY, and the surrounding areas were packed into the stadium for the fireworks. The setting was awesome because the field is situated on the side of a hill overlooking Ithaca and Cayuga Lake. 

I always got a bit antsy waiting for the main event to begin. I loved the fireworks. I especially enjoyed the noise and following the rockets up into the air to their point of detonation. They always seemed so close. The fireworks was an event we did as a family. I learned that I did not like crowds from the fireworks experience. I think it was because we were always worried about losing one of my siblings. Overall, however, fireworks were fun. 

Chris and I have watched fireworks from many different venues over the years. One especially memorable viewing was Shreveport, LA, during the early 1980s when the entire planned display launched at one moment. It lit up the entire bank of the river. 

Hopefully, we will not experience anything quite so exciting this year. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL