The July 4th I Saw More Fireworks Than Anyone Ever – RedState
In my youth, Memorial Day seemed a bigger deal than July 4th. Perhaps because I had a relative who sacrificed in World War II, going down in a Spitfire over Dunkirk.
Back then, the May holiday was called Decoration Day in the U.S., a tradition that began after the Civil War when, first, Southern women and then their Union sisters began decorating the shallow graves of soldiers, regardless of the army they served.
Abraham Lincoln noticed and declared May 30 Decoration Day (whatever day of the week that was, three-day weekend or not).
July 4th did, however, have fireworks, a major attraction to my eyes and ears. My rural Ohio town was home to two major fireworks makers. So, supplies were no problem.
Local volunteer firefighters performed the risky business of setting up the huge mortars,...