Parade Goers Share Opinions on Meaning of Independence Day

BRISTOL, Tenn. – To Darrell Nave, the Fourth of July used to be just a holiday, a day off from work and for fun with the family. But he returned from Iraq four years ago with a more solemn view: remembrance of the ongoing sacrifices made for freedom.

“There are soldiers putting their lives on the line every day so I can put my feet up on the coffee table and watch Andy Griffith and giggle,” Nave said

Saturday after riding with his father, also a veteran, in Bristol’s Fourth of July parade.

“I’ve seen friends die for the freedoms that people are enjoying here today – good friends,” Nave said. “Just be thankful for the freedom that you have and remember somebody every day is getting up early in the morning and standing guard, putting their life on the line so you can enjoy all this.”

Saturday’s parade down State Street was followed by a patriotic music program and activities for children at Cumberland Square Park. There also was a car show nearby, and Bristol’s refurbished historic train station hosted its grand re-opening. Downtown also was filled with a parade of strollers rolling among the activities, grandparents in lawn chairs and little girls with red, white and blue pom-pom pigtails.

“I think it’s a good demonstration of American spirit for everyone to gather in the community’s center and celebrate America’s birthday,” Frank Goodpasture, of Bristol, Va., said as he enjoyed the festivities.

Watching the floats pass, Marshall Litchfield of Bristol, Va., said July 4 is “a renewal of our freedom and our liberty and everything that we basically stand for in the United States.”

Marking the birth of the nation on July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, Saturday’s festivities resembled hundreds of others in the region and across the nation.

But Mark Holden, of Bristol, Tenn., said independence is not just about the nation – it’s about individuals.

“Take care of yourself, your neighbors, and things like that. You don’t need your federal government to handle everything for you,” said Holden, a retired Marine who said the freedom and security that allows people to sit and watch a parade is defended daily by the nation’s armed forces.

“Instead of asking the government to give it to you as a handout, work for it like you’re supposed to,” Holden said.

Elizabeth Moser, of Bristol, Va., said that for her, the Fourth is a celebration of her hometown as well as her country.

Brandon Ware, of Bristol, Tenn., said remembering soldiers’ sacrifice is as much a part of his family’s annual celebration as picnics and fireworks.

“We go to the parade, then we meet back up at the house and decorate our own floats,” said Ware, who was in a group of three families pulling eight children around Cumberland Square Park in red, white and blue decorated wagons. “We come down to see the war memorial and just tell them a little bit about the history and what it means, then we have a big family picnic afterwards.”

Ware’s brother-in-law, Chadd Beverly of Bluff City, was in the group with one of his children. Beverly said he joined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks and served in Iraq – and, since his return, the Fourth of July is a lot more meaningful.

“I think it’s a time to celebrate capitalism, stay true to the Constitution and what people fought for 200 years ago,” Beverly said. “I think people should stop
watching American Idol and start watching the news a little bit more because there are a lot of people out there who want to take our freedom away.”

Brandi Carswell, of Bristol, Va., said she was downtown Saturday “just to remember that America is a great country.”

“Even though a lot of people in the media want to tell us it’s not, it’s still the best country on Earth,” Carswell said.

But Beverly said that even today, freedom has many enemies – enemies abroad as well as politicians within the United States who would too willingly give up the freedom its citizens enjoy.

“If we want to stay and have our freedom, we’ll have to keep fighting constantly for it,” Beverly said, “because there’s always going to be somebody out there wanting to take it away.”

dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701