July 4 has always been a huge holiday in my family. It’s big for Americans in general, of course, but my grandfather was born on July 4 in England. He always said that he had to emigrate because no one celebrated his birthday back in Durham. He used to tell us that the fireworks were for him, but I never believed it.
To add to the fun, one of the country’s largest fireworks companies, B.J. Alan/Phantom Fireworks, is headquartered in my hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and the leading designer of high-end fireworks shows, Zambelli Fireworks, is just over the state line in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
And did I mention that my father was on the Mahoning County Bicentennial Commission, and my brother and sisters and I got to ride on a float wearing colonial costumes in Youngstown’s July 4, 1976 parade? No? The picture above shows us, with our cousin, at the dedication of the John Young Memorial that year. It’s scanned from an actual pre-Instagram Polaroid SX-70 photo. That’s me on the far right. Do you like my brother’s historically correct gym socks?
Anyway, it feels odd to be in China today. I’m wearing my standard-issue Old Navy flag t-shirt, but I have such obviously American orthodontia that the shirt is redundant.
