Summer’s Great Thanksgiving

“Summer’s Great Thanksgiving”

It sort of hit me this year on the 4^th of July that the holiday reminds me a lot of Thanksgiving.  I think you could call it “Summer’s Great Thanksgiving.”

Like Thanksgiving, it has become a big family event.   We didn’t have many of our kids home this year, as they were gathering with their families in other places.   Once your kids marry, you have to accept the fact that you have to share their time with the “in-laws.”  Such is life, but it is a good thing.  On the Fourth of July, people block out time to be with family—even if that means that they may not be coming to your house.

Of course, the holiday day really started in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, and it has ever since been a big day for the country.   When you try to describe our country, I have always felt that the words on the Great Seal of the United States say it best:  E pluribus unum,—“Out of many, one.”

E pluribus unum,—“Out of many, one.”

Admittedly, we have been living through a time more focused on the “out of many” side of the equation—people going in different directions, disagreeing, sometimes disliking each other.  But, the Fourth of July reminds us that we are still “one.”  Old Glory flies up there with its 50 stars and 13 stripes reminding us that we remain one people.

There were still some political flags flying from flag poles and boat masts this year, but they were fewer.  The American flag was the prominent symbol being seen and flown. 

There are probably reasons for this.  Political rhetoric is down and genuine concern is up.  With inflation up, the stock market down and the war in Ukraine going on—it has brought us back at bit to the reality that “we are all in this together.”  Life is not just a “hop-skip-and-a-jump” from one euphoric high to another.  Mankind still struggles to get along.  There are bad forces in the world that need to be confronted, and we need each other to deal with such things.

On the 4^th, friends of ours sent us a “hurry-up” video of their brood gathering for a family photo.  There were people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds running around setting up benches and chairs, then smiling for the photo followed by the dismantling of the scene.  It was a hoot to watch!  It also sent a message visually (not in writing) about what a great day they had getting together as a family.

THE GREAT JHS CLASS OF '81 RECONNECTING ON THE LAKE ON JULY 4TH

Earlier in the weekend, one of our kids came back to be with friends to attend their high school reunion.  Talk about political diversity in the group—it ran from bright blue to deep red—the whole gamut.  Jokes were even made about that at one of the reunion events.  Fortunately, these are friendships never to be broken.  Out of many, one—is still the mantra for this now decades-old high school class.

Yes, there is, has been and will continue to be division in our body politic.  But, as with families or old high school friends, we can rise above our differences or divisions.   The message on the Great Seal still holds.  E pluribus unum.  It is what makes us strong and resilient.  It also makes for Thanksgiving in the summer!

Rolly Kidder