Show The Old Fourth Tito Fourth of Jul July Independence Independence Day What hat a world of color of f drama of history those few little words bring to mind and especially to those of an anage anage age who can remember what tho Fourth used to mean It was a day of fun of course There were games complete with prizes for young and nul old alike running the gamut from three legged races race to shooting matches There were werl the family picnics and old tables under them rI There herc were the tho fire fire- works v no now banned almost everywhere except in informal formal displays for sarty reasons There Thero were the they orators ran the full fuU from good to indifferent indifferent ferent to bad but they aU all had one oue thing ng in common common- dedication passion pr pride lle in nation its ita heritage and its future There W were ro the tho great brass bands the members standing tall in their pressed polished uniforms uni- uni forms There were the roll calls of the towering nam- nam names in molding and es 8 that had provided leadership ranking making n 1 nation fit to stan stand with any nation Wash ington Monroe Jefferson the Franklin And the flags proud against the sky flew everywhere We Ve still celebrate the Fourth Its It's still a national holiday Rut But something vital has gone out of it What What- Whatever ever eV r the tho reason the nation is if poorer weaker and smaller because of that Timor have changed We Ve have grown learned l enjoyed vast material progress But is the tho old pride the old of faith in nation and in its destiny the tho old courage still with f Each must answer that question for himself But I l let t him ponder deeply and honestly before answering us as another Fourth comes near |