Memories of July 4th in the 1960s

When I was a young girl, we lived near the inner city. A place that didn't know from BBQ'a or special color coordinated red, white, and blue dinners for the 4th . Our celebration of the National holiday began as we stepped onto the T2 bus that happily took us to downtown Trenton (NJ).

It was a familiar ride, one we often took to the five and dime store, the automat, the truly majestic movie theatre that had been converted from an opera house, and a few department stores.

 As the bus throttled down the wide lanes of historic West State Street, passengers gazed through open windows breathing in the fragrance of flowers and fumes in awe of the numerous grand old flags that hung from every porch of the grand old houses that lined the main street into the city.

The bus driver dropped us off among the crowds of mothers, fathers, grandparents and children excitedly waving their American flags. Once we located " our spot" to view the parade, we hoped to get a taste some of the popcorn, hotdogs, and soda that was being sold on the street.  In unison, we cheered as the proud soldiers, veterans, and local politicians strutted by.

Cars, jeeps, and tanks wrapped in red, white, and blue decorated the parade path as they took their place in the parade line up.

Teenagers of local high school bands marched triumphantly to the sound of their loved ones cheering

When the last brigade disappeared from our sight, we reluctantly gathered our belonging and prepared to leave. Feeling satisfied that the parade was really over, we returned home to sit and chat  on the "stoop" with neighbors and share pitchers of homemade lemonade.

My mother had no red, white , and blue  special foods for the occasion It just wasn't part of our celebration . We had no special theme for dinner. We just had dinner.

However, later that night, my father would drive us to the outskirts of the city where we would hang out from the back of our station wagon and watch the illustrious annual fire works at the local fair grounds!

We were patriotic and grateful that the grand old flag still waved!! 
That was how we celebrated the 4th of July in the early 1960s. 

I made red and blue vitamin water drinks for the 4th 

How did you celebrate?? 

shared on Beth Fish Reads linky