A big, big holiday through the eyes of the small
by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 07/02/2023
With all its sparkle and festivity, our Independence Day makes a big impression on teeny tots and toddlers who are just getting the hang of sentences. They take it all in as a huge bedazzling celebration of pyrotechnics and parades – a big bombastic blast that parents and grandparents call The Fourth of July.
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| It’s The Forthajooleye! |
“ Forthajooleye!”
They parrot back the string of syllables. “ Forthajooleye! Forthajooleye! Yaay!!”
In the fullness of time, they grow to understand why we celebrate Forthajooleye. They learn another important four-syllable word: Independence. Yes, the Fourth is a biggie in our national psyche. As it should be. It is that annual affirmation of who we are as a nation, and what we stand for as a people. It is that day when our youngest citizens enjoy a wondrous introduction to our celebration of freedom in this special country that we call home. Forthajooleye is our patriotic tradition that spans and binds generations.
There are few places that celebrate the Fourth as well and fully as Franklin. A holiday as big and boisterous as our Fourth deserves big play.
On August 24th the people of Ukraine will celebrate their own Independence Day. For them, the desperate fight for democracy and independence is far from over. And, make no mistake, we as a free people need to fully support that fight as well.
двадцять четверте-серпня
August twenty-fourth
So, celebrate our independence – our freedom. Celebrate with the very young. (It’s more fun.) Celebrate, because we want to.
Celebrate, because we can.
Happy Forthajooleye!
And, thanks for watching!
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