An Alternative Fourth

Facebook tells me that I had this to say on July 3, 2012:

Fourth of July celebrations were never as hot in my childhood, Ohio, days. I want to celebrate but I desire to be cool more.

It’s still true.

I’m pretty sure that the readers of this blog know all about the local options for celebrating Independence Day: parades, fireworks, etc. But if you’re looking for something more low-key, may I suggest:

The Navy Concert Band will be performing at the Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods beginning at 3:00 pm. The concert is free and appears to require no registration.

The US Navy Concert Band takes the Chrysalis stage this Fourth of July for a free, family-friendly concert celebrating the American spirit!

Maybe fireworks are too loud for you or the little ones or the Lakefront scene is just too peopley. Maybe you’d rather not be out at night and have to fight your way through the traffic to get home. Or maybe you’d just like to plant yourself on the beautiful lawn in the Park and let the music wash over you. Best of all, you just might see children dancing on the lawn.

The weather report says there just might be storms, so, I can’t promise you anything. Keep an eye on the weather and hope for the best. Perhaps if it pours we can all go outside and dance on our own front lawns.

In 2019 I wrote about a concert at the Chrysalis by the Columbia Orchestra and a song, from the musical Ragtime, that moved me to tears.

A Song for the Day, Village Green/Town², July 4, 2019

Go out and tell our story
Let it echo far and wide
Make them hear you
Make them hear you

How Justice was our battle
And how Justice was denied
Make them hear you
Make them hear you

And say to those who blame us
For the way we chose to fight,
That sometimes there are battles
That are more than black or white

And I could not put down my sword
When Justice was my right
Make them hear you

Go out and tell our story to your daughters and your sons
Make them hear you
Make them hear you

And tell them, "In our struggle,
We were not the only ones"
Make them hear you
Make them hear you

Your sword could be a sermon
Or the power of the pen
Teach every child to raise his voice
And then my brothers, then

Will justice be demanded by ten million righteous men
Make them hear you-
When they hear you, I'll be near you
Again

Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Charles Flaherty, from the musical “Ragtime

It feels like a good day to listen to that song again.

Village Green/Town² Comments

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