Independence Day - July 4th

Independence Day, more than a day of fireworks!

As Americans, most of us know, July 4th is our nationally recognized holiday of independence. But what does this day really mean to you and to me? Well, I believe we owe those in our armed forces a day of recognition and honor. You are providing to us here at home, an opportunity to live in a land that is free and I honor and respect you with all my heart and soul. I truly want to stand up and salute you! Thank you!

So, when you are enjoying your day with your family, please remember those you have given so much for all of us. I wish each and everyone who reads this, my deepest and most sincere hope for your day to be filled with joy and happiness.

I'm also no different than many of you, I love to see a fabulous 4th of July celebration of fireworks. So with that, I'm going to provide you with some celebration information you can use if you are in the Kansas City area. Just think about our men and women in service as you celebrate this day.

Here in Olathe, Kansas, the Great Mall of the Great Plains display will provide a celebration in honor of Olathe's 150th Birthday with a display to go off around 9:30pm.

• Olathe's 150th Birthday - Sesquicentennial Celebration
• Where: The Great Mall of the Great Plains, 20700 W. 151st St.
• Time: 9:30 pm

In Overland Park, the Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is something to see with an events kick off at 4 pm to last until 11 pm. With everything from a free concert to funnel cakes, it's also one of the biggest fireworks displays in the Kansas City metro.

• Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular
• Where: Corporate Woods, I-435 and College Blvd @ 109th/Mastin, Overland Park, Kansas
• Time: 9:30 pm

  Guide Tip: Be prepared to park and WALK a long way!

The biggest and best fireworks display in the Kansas City metro by far is the Shawnee Mission Park Fireworks Extravaganza. The display can be seen practically all over Shawnee.

• Shawnee Mission Park Fireworks Extravaganza
• Where: Shawnee Mission Park, 7710 Renner Road; Shawnee Kansas 66219
• Time: 9:45 pm

  Guide Tip: Head to a special showing of Peter Pan at SMP's 'Theatre in the Park'. It's the best seat in the house for watching fireworks--held during intermission.

Many other displays and celebrations can be found at KMBC's Fourth Celebration link, here.

Now for a little trivia on the Fourth of July.

The celebration of this day was first "officially" recognized under resolve of a legislature occurred in Massachusetts in 1781 and Boston was the first city to officially designate July Fourth as a holiday, in 1783.

James R. Heintze provides a tremendous about of research on the celebrations of this holiday. Check out his web site called the Fourth of July Celebrations Database. The content of his site states the following,

"The range of observances is broad and include unique, unusual, and little-known events. The selections represent both major cities and small rural towns throughout the United States, as well as some foreign countries, and are arranged by year and alphabetically by location. Entries include outlandish and unusual pyrotechnic displays, parades and processions, speeches, battle enactments, musical events, information on rabble-rousing, gun-toting crowds and protesters, balls, artillery salutes, mishaps and accidents, and expressions by ethnic groups. Currently the database includes hundreds of different celebrations, and its content is continually under development. Examples of what readers may expect to find include one of the last parades of War of 1812 veterans and the staged battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac in New York (1862), a grand explosion on top of Pike's Peak (1901), the reunion of Confederate soldiers in Chattanooga (1890), the mock atomic bomb explosion before a crowd of 25,000 in Baltimore (1951), and the Oklahoma City Fourth that included the raising of the American flag back to full-staff after the bombing of the Federal Building earlier that year (1995). Citations are taken from primary sources, such as newspapers, and other reliable resources."

From there he provides a First Celebration to a chronological list of notable occurences you will want to review. This list is extensive and too long to provide here. Check out his site Fourth of July Celebrations Database.

I wish everyone a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!!

David L. Britt, MBA
Olathe, Kansas
David L. Britt Real Estate
Heritage Real Estate
The Heritage Real Estate Team
Olathe Neighbors

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