Good evening,
Whitewater’s Independence Day parade was among the biggest of recent memory, with local groups and out-of-city participants from as far as fifty miles away. I published some scenes from the parade, in an earlier post.
Just a bit ago, I watched the fireworks from across Cravath Lake, looking toward downtown Whitewater. Thousands of residents and visitors lined the sidewalks, parks, and streets near the lake. Others parked farther away, and watched the display from their cars.
The thunderstorms earlier forecast for tonight held off, and people brought blankets and chairs to watch the celebration. It was a lovely night, the conclusion to a very fine holiday for Whitewater.
Here are a few photographs of the show:
The crowd was happy and appreciative, but I thought subdued, too. The weekend was wonderful; their concerns were surely elsewhere. I took no surveys, and so I can offer only my own assessment. I’d guess there’s an underlying worry among many about the near future, a concern about the next few years, despite a justifiable pride and hope and fundamental optimism about America’s greater future. In that way, this time feels to me like nothing so much as the Bicentennial. Then, like now, people were justifiably proud of America’s heritage, but uncertain about what what might wait just ahead.
We came through that time, and we will come this one, too — difficult, with travel over hard ground, but well within the ability of Americans. Although one might have doubts about the road ahead, and legitimate skepticism about local politicians’ solutions, it’s impossible to be other than optimistic walking through tonight’s crowd.
They, above all others, are the ones who sustain the city, and support the country, that will yet see better days on their account.