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Independence Day Firecracker

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Celebrate Independence Day with Fireworks!

On July 4th, 1776, our founding fathers formally adopted the Declaration of Independence from England.

Over the next several days, the Declaration was signed and the United States of America took on a new life of its own.

Now, we celebrate Independence Day with feasts, parades, celebrations, concerts, and - at the end of the day - with fireworks.

It's our national birthday celebration and we enjoy it.

However, that's not the only reason I created this lens.

I have a personal story to share with you.

as presented by world famous performers

Have you read the Declaration of Independence?

Have you heard someone read it aloud?

Here are several world famous performers and their presentation of this magnificent document.

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Links

These sites have more information about the Declaration of Independence, Independence Day, and our July 4th holiday.

What Happened to the 56 Men Who Signed the Declaration of ...: Neither the American nor the British authorities sought to induce .... was at the time the greatest nation on the face of the planet throughout history. ...
United States Declaration of Independence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: United States Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire....
Declaration of Independence: Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument....

Declaration of Independence

My First Nickname was "Firecracker"

Mom didn't like it

I was born on July 1, 1952.

Three days later, on Independence Day, I came home from the hospital with my Mom and Dad.

It was a rare, cold day in July in the Atlanta, Georgia, suburbs and I was so cold that my lips were turning blue. Dad had to go get an electric heater just to warm me up.

Of course, I was much smaller then than I am now, but I was reminded of this story on my birthday this year when we had a cold snap here in the North Carolina mountains and I used an electric heater to keep me warm in my office.

I told Mom that I'd plugged in my heater and she told me, again, the whole story. I'll just share the most relevant parts.

Dad enjoyed nicknames. When he was younger, his hair was brown with a reddish tint, but his mustache was much redder. That, coupled with his red, sunburned complexion resulted in almost everyone calling him "Red" when he was a young man.

When he liked you, it wasn't uncommon for him to give you a nickname. It was always done with respect; he would never give you a nickname you wouldn't like.

Still, I was called Firecracker for only a couple of days before Mom put a stop to it. From that point forward, I was called Johnny, and "Firecracker" was relegated to the dim foggy memories of my parents and a few relatives.

I heard the story not too long before Dad died in 1991. He had a twinkle in his eye when he called me Firecracker out of range of Mom's hearing.

So, this year, during the cold snap, I told Mom that I would be known henceforward as Firecracker Dilbeck.

Even now, 56 years later, she's not too happy about it, and I doubt it will stick, but at least my brother sent me a Happy 4th of July email and called me Firecracker.

You can, too, if you want.

I'll continue to answer to John or JD, but I'll get a warm, fuzzy memory of my Dad when you call me Firecracker.

Firecracker Dilbeck, that's my name. Blogging and websites, that's my game.

I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day celebration with family and friends, followed by a rousing display of loud and beautiful fireworks in the summer evening.

Happy 4th of July!

Firecracker Dilbeck
July 4, 2008

Firecracker Dilbeck and Granny

The Star Spangled Banner

Performed by The Cactus Cuties

Of all the performances I've ever seen and heard of our national anthem, this is one of my very favorites.

I bet you'll enjoy it, too.

Celebrate the USA

Products from CafePress with Patriotic Designs

These are a few of the products featuring a stars and stripes USA design.

More products and designs are available in the USA Flag Wear section of John Dilbeck's Shirts, Mugs, and Hats store, powered by CafePress.

Our National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner

Fireworks!

Fireworks lighting up the night sky in celebration!

What do you think about fireworks?

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Fireworks Videos

Professional Fireworks Displays

How do they do that?

Fireworks Displays and Shows Worldwide: Information about fireworks and fireworks displays around the world.
To Entertain and Inspire with Fire - Firework displays, large and small, for all occasions and budgets from Dragon Fireworks: Firework displays, large and small, for all occasions and budgets - DIY packs or Dragon managed productions. Dragon fireworks has devoted its time and experience to creating displays that are beyond the normal and are truly incredible. We pride ourselves on working with you to create a truly unique...
Fireworks: How do they do that?: Firework Displays - how the professionals create, build and fire award-winning shows.
HowStuffWorks "How Fireworks Work": Fireworks may seem magical, but the science behind them is easy to understand. Learn how fireworks and firecrackers work and watch a fireworks video.

Celebrate with fireworks

Independence Day (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States, but is often also viewed as simply a summer festival, apart from its patriotic overtones....
Fireworks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Each year before the American Independence Day (July 4th) retailers across the nation experience a surge in fireworks sales.[citation needed] Independence Day is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Independence Day is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history and traditions of the U.S. Fireworks have been associated with the Independence since 1777....

Stars And Stripes Forever

by John Phillip Sousa

Independence Day Parades

Photos of the Marine Corps Band, representing the United States of America, in parades.

Whether or not these photos are of an Independence Day parade, they show the patriotic spirit of Americans on our national holiday.

Patriotic Music

God Bless the U. S. A.

by Lee Greenwood

Countdown to Independence Day

Independence Day: July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July!

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Patriotic Songs Links

American patriotic music - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: American patriotic music is a part of the culture and history of the United States since its founding in the 18th century and has served to encourage feelings of national unity.[1] Patriotic music in America owes its origins to four main wars - the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, and the Spanish American War....
Sing Along Midis and Lyrics for the NIEHS Kids' Pages: Sing-Along Midis and Lyrics for the NIEHS Kids' Pages, presented by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences as a means of introducing kids to science and research interests.

Some examples of these songs follow, below.
Stars and Stripes Forever: Music and lyrics to Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa.
Star Spangled Banner: Star Spangled Banner, composed by Francis Scott Key, "In Defense of Fort McHenry" in September 1814. Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931 -- history follows.
You're A Grand Old Flag: You're A Grand Old Flag - Music and lyrics by George M. Cohan.
America the Beautiful: America the Beautiful - lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates;
music composed by Samuel A. Ward - more history follows the lyrics.
My Country 'Tis of Thee (America): My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) - written by Samuel Francis Smith; the tune used for this song is "God Save the Queen", the British National Anthem.
Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean: Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean - The version that was written in 1843 (T. Becket, D. Shaw; © 1999 AmeriMusic, Inc.) was extremely popular during the Lincoln years, and was usually included among the patriotic songs played by the Marine Band for the President's ceremonial gatherings. But the song was apparently a rewrite of a very well known British tune entitled "Red, White, and Blue" that was composed and written by Thomas A'Becket in 1750.