Question for Americans

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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:55 pm

Does anybody have anything fun planned for Saturday?

The 4th of July is a pretty big deal here in Central Texas. I live outside any city limits, right next to a lake. I can leave my front door and be in the water in less than 10 minutes. I’m 5 miles from Belton which, believe it or not, hosts the largest 4th of July parade in Texas. The population of Belton is only about 15,000 but Ft. Hood is less than 20 miles away. Also, we’re only an hour north of Austin, the state capital.

Ft Hood is the largest military base in the world and home to III Corps which includes the 1st Calvary Division. The 1st Cav is like the one of the oldest divisions in the US Army. Their shoulder insignia is that yellow shield with the black bar and black horse head. If you’ve seen Apocalypse Now, you’ve seen one of the regiments. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”

What’s really cool about the 1st Cav is they still have a “Horse Calvary Detachment” which is like a PR group. They ride horses and wear those old west uniforms. I mean real John Wayne type stuff. You’ve got those guys followed by the modern Army in the parade. They’ll have like one of each of the different armored vehicles including those huge tanks. They’ll also have helicopters being pulled on flatbed trucks.

The Governor of Texas is always in the parade along with both US and State Senators and Representatives, the Attorney General and a bunch of other politicians. Then the high school bands and floats and floats and more floats. Of course, the last entry in the parade is the obligatory fire truck spraying everybody with water.

Then about 9:30pm, Ft Hood does their fireworks display. It’s not the best 4th of July display in the US but it’s very respectable. You have to go someplace like Boston, Philadelphia or DC to see a better display.

Oh, and fireworks are legal in Texas. Most cities have some sort of ordnance against lighting fireworks inside the city limits. But, since I’m not in the city, we can light fireworks in our driveway. Before the kids left home we used to have people over after the Ft Hood display to set off everything you can think of. One year we had like 25 people over.

So, the parade starts about 9:00am and lasts almost 2 hours. Then head to the lake with the Jet Ski, not mine, a friends, and plenty of food and beverages. When it starts to get dark, find a spot on a hill close enough to Ft Hood and watch their display. Then back home to set off more fireworks and drink more beverages.

Best of all, July 5th happens to be a Sunday so nobody has to get up to go to work…

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:00 am

All depends on the weather around here.. I live on the coast in CA .. So if its not socked in with fog i usually head down to one of the local beaches.

Other then that.. Nothing else planned.

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:21 am

In years past the neighborhood around our church has had a local parade - kids on bicycles with red-white-and-blue streamers, dogs with Uncle Sam hats, etc. - complete with a police car leading and a fire truck bringing up the rear. It sounds as though they're not doing it this year though; the family that used to spearhead the program has moved away. Sad

Some friends are going to a local high school for their display, and we will join them. I have only missed fireworks on July 4 once or twice in my life. The best were, as said above, at the Boston Pops Esplanade Concert.

BTW, the Army unit is the Cavalry - Calvary is where Jesus was crucified. Wink

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:12 am

Cavalry Greetings!

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:58 am

There are a few displays planned for the area (central Michigan). Depending on weather , we'll probably take the kids out to a few of them.

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 90

I get to see my brother that I haven't seen since my wedding. (2.5 years) He has returned from his 3rd tour of Iraq and is now back for a while. Letting the families get together, shoot off some fire works, BBQ and let the cares melt away for a day.
Edit spelling

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:42 am

@ bumsnacks - tell your brother thanks for what he does from a grateful family!

My famiy and I have a cabin on a lake in N. Wisconsin. Headed up there tomorrow to enjoy Halloween in July, a few adult beverages and loads of ordinance (folks like the old 1/4 stick, aka M80) legal and otherwise.

I wish all my fellow citizens a happy 4th and thank the UK folks for still being our closest allies even after all that!

One last ramble for my fellow Americans...read the Declaration of Independance and don't forget the spirit of this document!

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:33 am

Us English are still waiting for you to dry the tea out and say sorry. Oh, and pay 200 years of back taxes..

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Have fun

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:57 pm

Bumsnacks,

I’ve got a son in the US Navy and right now he’s aboard the USS Pennsylvania. That’s a ballistic missile submarine, one of those big suckers. He’s a missile tech doing his first tour. Because of security reasons he can’t tell me much like when he’s supposed to get back.

My daughter was in the US Navy. She was an IT specialist on the USS Preble, a destroyer. She did a 9 month tour in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and that area about 2 years ago.

I know what it’s like having family over there, how stressful it can be.

Now my son, well the US Navy hasn’t lost a sub due to enemy fire since World War II and those ballistic subs don’t really go into “enemy territory”. My daughter kept reassuring me how the Navy hasn’t lost a ship from enemy fire since World War II with exceptions like the USS Cole which was a terrorist attack. Both explained that since World War II, the Navy receives the fewest Purple Heart medals meaning it’s safer than the Army or Marines.

Even though both of them were “relatively safe” it’s still stressful. Neither one of them ever went into Iraq or Afghanistan. I know several people from Ft Hood who’ve done more than one tour in Iraq. Your brother deserves a great big THANK YOU!!!!

Regardless of anybody’s opinion of the whole situation, I am proud we’re supporting those who are actually doing the fighting.

Also, you guys in the United Kingdom and Australia, tell your soldiers the same thing. They deserve the same THANK YOU as well…

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 619

^^ Like Badger, we have a family get together at a cabin planned. Relaxation, good beer plus a standard cookout with hamburgers, bratwursts, beans & so on. Unfortunately the rest of the group isn't into fireworks so that's never in the plans for these get togethers.

419Eater is my life Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 365

Fun? That word is not in my vocabulary...

We are under a state wide burn ban and I have a feeling that I might have to impose restrictions on firework use. Breaking up family fights, dealing with the drunks, throwing people in jail, issuing citations.....yea, I guess that I will have fun this weekend Very Happy

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:23 pm

GordonBennett,

I’m not so sure you want that tea anymore. It’s been in the Boston Harbor for a while.

Maybe it’s just me but I find it hard to believe that the United States and the United Kingdom actually fought wars against each other but now consider each other BFF’s. The US never fought Canada or Australia so it’s natural we’re also BFF’s.

I had an uncle who crossed the English Channel on June 6, 1944. I made a comment once about fighting the Germans. He got rather upset and told me we didn’t fight Germany, we fought Nazi leaders who lied to their citizens…..

So when it comes to freedom, let’s remember everybody, from every nation, who’s fought and died defending freedom for the entire world.

I’ll shut up on this subject….

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:33 pm

Quote:

The US never fought Canada

War of 1812? But not since then.

But yeah, Australia and the US have long been allies - hearken to what an AEF officer told troops preparing to fight alongside Australians at Hamel in 1918: "You’re going into action with some mighty celebrated troops guaranteed to win and you’ve got to get up to their level and stay with them". The respect was won and it's been there ever since.

*** BANNED *** Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 2049

Yastreb wrote:

Quote:

The US never fought Canada

War of 1812?

And we won!!!!!!!

Every February 21 we commemorate this when a small group of us walk half way across the bridge at Prescott and wave our private parts at the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Strange but no one seems to notice Wink

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:33 pm

Canada was not Canada at the time, quit trying to take credit for British Generals now...But thanks anyway for MolsonXXX and Wayne Gretske!

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

@ Gold Hat

Quote:

a small group of us walk half way across the bridge at Prescott and wave our private parts at the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Strange but no one seems to notice

Given the date and the air temp there may not be much to notice

@Chief

Quote:

Breaking up family fights, dealing with the drunks, throwing people in jail, issuing citations

Sounds like Hogmanay

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:17 pm

As a Brit, I'd like to share my 4th July experience.

I was in Milwaukee visiting friends and had been there for Summer Fest. I had a great time out by the lake, playing volleyball and other such stuff. BBQ, beer. Fireworks and some good music. I had a fab time Very Happy

We have something a little similar, but it's not on a specific date, but Proms in the Park is always a winner with me!

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:02 pm

My military son is just as evil as I am and always calls me on the 4th of July. The first thing I see is the caller ID and then I hear the mortars that the Marines are firing off. No matter what I lose a few days of my life as the call comes at different times of the day due to time zones.

I would love to tell more about the SSBN Penn and the DDG 88 but loose lips sink ships.

*** BANNED *** Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 2049

Badgerbait wrote:

Canada was not Canada at the time, quit trying to take credit for British Generals now...But thanks anyway for MolsonXXX and Wayne Gretske!

Exsqueeze me!!!!! We are proud British descendants – Her Majesty is still our Queen and will be until Charles takes over at which time we will become a republic.

Molson X is shipped to the States – we don’t drink that stuff – Americans will drink anything.

Gretske????? – bite your tongue – Next to Gordie Howe, Wayne Douglas Gretzky (with a “Y”) is the second greatest player to have ever lived.

Nanny Ogg wrote:

@ Gold Hat

Quote:

a small group of us walk half way across the bridge at Prescott and wave our private parts at the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Strange but no one seems to notice

Given the date and the air temp there may not be much to notice

Thanks Nanny – at least one person got the joke. Wink

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 582

Plan to visit the in-laws out in the boonies to swim and grill. Instructions to the place included the phrase...turn off the paved road....

I just hope that the potholes are smaller than my car and not filled with water this year.

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:26 pm

All these great things to do today –
And my father-in-law decides he needs to go to the ER

He had major back surgery 3 weeks ago and is having serious problems recovering. He hasn’t been able to eat or drink even. Now the doctor thinks it’s not related to his surgery, that his gall bladder is causing all the problems. I’ve got to help take him to the hospital for an ultrasound here in a few hours and wait to see what they want to do. We’ve been taking him back and forth to doctors for a few days now.

So, I’ll be logging on and off throughout the day hopefully. Hopefully means it’s nothing serious and my wife and I are just going to be helping him out.

But, this is what you do when family needs it. I know 99.9999% of you out there feel the same way and you would drop whatever plans you had without thinking…..

Elite Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1407

Gold Hat wrote:

Every February 21 we commemorate this when a small group of us walk half way across the bridge at Prescott and wave our private parts at the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Strange but no one seems to notice Wink

Sounds like a personal problem... Embarassed

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:58 pm

We are going to a pool party.

Told us to bring nothing but ourselves.

Lots of friends, food and booze. Smile

Edit: I'm going to take a dish anyways. Wink

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:02 pm

On the classical radio station this morning they played a recording of a brass ensemble playing a medley of Sousa marches. When they got to "Stars and Stripes Forever" I wondered how they were going to do that tweedly piccolo part. I had to laugh when they played it - on the tuba!