Let Me Be The First To Wish Everyone

[eulessismore]

And here's a little historical tidbit about political archrivals John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence, and both their deaths on July 4, 1826:

Adams, Jefferson, and July 4

[FirefightnRick]

I think the beautiful voice of Martina McBride say's it all: God Bless America!

vJNqep77vBw

Happy Independence Day y'all!

Rick

Edited July 4, 2009 by FirefightnRick

[bstnsportsfan3]

Happy 4th!

and i have to work

[KingDL1]

Happy 4th everyone! I plan to be in a pool all day tomorrow!

Its 3:00 am and I just got the baby-back ribs, pulled pork, and brisket squared away and I am going to bed

[UNT_playmaker]

Im going to have to one up ya Rick and post this Martina McBride favorite that is the most appropriate for this holiday.

Enjoy......Favorite time of the year : Fireworks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYENO6r5vVo

[GreenStreet]

Everyone be Safe. Happy 4th its great to live in a country were we can talk sports 24/7!!!

[CMJ]

The late Arthur Fielder, conductor of the Boston Pops for over 50 years, made this piece a 4th of July tradition. It's hard to find a orchestra anywhere who doesn't play this on Independence Day. This is probably my favorite recording of the piece(just the last half of it - no one posted the full thing). It's from 1958 and actually uses real carillon(an instrument found in some cathedrals - which is how it's written, but since the instrument is rarely found it's usually just approximated with bells), and a vintage Napoleonic era cannon.

Kinda ironic how we associate it with the 4th, since Tchaikovsky wrote it about the Russians defeating Napoleon.

Edited July 4, 2009 by CMJ

[FirefightnRick]

Kinda ironic how we associate it with the 4th, since Tchaikovsky wrote it about the Russians defeating Napoleon.

Every July 4th we take the boat up river to town in Granbury and anchor right beside where their firework display is launched, and at some point the kids and I will sing about an event that also took place in 1812.

Rick

Edited July 6, 2009 by FirefightnRick

[CMJ]

Every July 4th we take the boat up river to town in Granbury and anchor right beside where their firework display is launched, and at some point the kids and I will sing about an event that also took place in 1812.

Rick

I actually think alot of people just aren't aware the 1812 Overture isn't referencing our war of 1812. Besides, it's such a rousing piece, I think folks just got swept up in it. I do often wonder why Fiedler had the Pops perform it on the 4th, but it was such a hit(and then like now the most of the Boston Pops concert was shown on National TV) it caught on everywhere. I watched parts of 4 different 4th of July celebrations and the piece was played at all of them.

As far as the Star Spangled Banner goes - I find it interesting that our Anthem(since only the 1st verse is ever performed) both begins and ends with a question. I believe it is the only one to do so.