MY TOP JULY FOURTH: 1976

In 1976 July Fourth found me living in Philadelphia, of all places.

I was standing in the audience listening to President Ford address the nation from the Liberty Bell.

I was a regular Army private two months from being discharged after two years.

My uncle, a career Marine, was with me.

It felt different than July 4, 2026.

Not because I wasn’t married, didn’t have kids, or was homesick for Oregon.

It’s because I felt like part of the program just being there.

Just being in attendance was enough.

That’s the American ideal, know your country well enough to show up.

It was before social media explained everything for us from dubious sources.

It was before dubious sources won elections, were appointed to big jobs, and promoted more dubious notions.

Call it a simpler time? Nooooo.

A better time? Noooo.

Was it the most important July Fourth? Noooo.

The most important is July Fourth 2026.

Why?

Because I got married, have kids, now grandkids, and they have a long future ahead of them.

Will they outlast the current mood? Yes.

Will they make a difference to each other and their community? Yes.

Will they have a president that connects to the sort of people who will make a difference to the people working to make a difference to each other and their community?

Will they have a president who hires the best and the brightest talent available in each department?

Does that sound like a wish too big?