Happy Birthday America, from Statesboro
by Amy Connell –
For as long as I can remember, the Fourth of July has always been associated with some of my fondest memories. It’s a day that everyone comes together to show their pride for our great country. Growing up in Statesboro, the Firecracker Fest held at Mill Creek was always a tradition. From watching the fireworks from inside the car with my mom as a child because I was afraid of how loud they were, to laying on blankets surrounded by my friends looking up at the bright-colored explosions in the sky, those memories will stay with me forever.
The past couple of years I have been out of town on the 4th, so I was excited that I would get to attend the Firecracker Fest this year. When I arrived, I was immediately flooded by all of my senses taking me back to the memories of the event in the past. From the smell of hamburgers grilling to the sound of children laughing, I was reminded of what a special event this was. As I managed my way through the crowd, I saw families sitting together, dressed in red, white, and blue to show their patriotism. Children ran around with American flags painted on their cheeks enjoying snow cones, and there was live music from local bands and artists playing in the background. People from all over arrived with their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the event.
I noticed a line of people out the corner of my eye. As I walked around the corner, I saw that there was a giant red, white, and blue, inflatable water slide. Children and adults were eagerly waiting for their turn to slide down. Children were laughing and smiling as the joy they felt from the rush of sliding took over their bodies. On the other side, a tie-dyed tapestry was hanging up as families put on silly glasses and wore feather boas to take a photo. To me, it was a picture of the American dream as I looked around at all of the smiling faces and happy families.
As the night progressed, different bands played on the stage as people gathered around sitting in the grass. The children were anxiously awaiting for the sky to grow dark enough for the fireworks to begin. When the time finally came, the loud bursts and crackles were followed by a colorful show in the sky. The looks on the children’s faces were unforgettable as they looked up into the night sky smiling. There is something so special about everyone coming together to celebrate such a wonderful holiday. Firecracker Fest 2018, thank you for reminding me how awesome Statesboro is, and Happy Independence Day, America. Until next year.
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