4th of July plans? (Augusta, Westbrook: house, live, military)

[CoastalMaine]

I will be spending the weekend of the 4th at my 5th wheel in Belfast... with a lobster bake on the beach the afternoon of the 5th...

[Maine Writer]

Our plan is to not make plans. We're enjoying down time while T's away.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

I will be spending the weekend of the 4th at my 5th wheel in Belfast... with a lobster bake on the beach the afternoon of the 5th...

Lots of fifth references there...probably cracking open a fifth or two as well???

[Maineah]

We may have ......dare I say it.....SUNSHINE!!!!! for the fourth of July!
I know don't hold my breath! It's probably propaganda to get tourists to come to the State.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Maineah

We may have ......dare I say it.....SUNSHINE!!!!! for the fourth of July!
I know don't hold my breath! It's probably propaganda to get tourists to come to the State.

That's funny because the Boston tv weathermen/women are predicting sun down here on the Cape for part of Saturday and most of Sunday... but NOT for Maine. For Maine they're predicting cloudy, thunderstorms, and possibly some clearing along the coast, but not inland... so I've felt guilty about coming back up because I've got about 500 things to plant in my gardens... and I'm not kidding!!! lol But it's been so dang lousy and I stayed in Maine 11 days instead of the originally planned 3-4 and missed about 3 days of sun down here over that time... but the thought of lobstah on the beach... and maybe a sunny view of Pen Bay... gees.... what's a camper to do?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Somebody asked me to retell a talk I gave several years ago at a 4th of July Gathering about what it means to me.

I'm a veteran and they asked me to give a talk. I found a kid who could play the flute and near the end of the festivities he played Yankee Doodle. As he got into the song he pointed to the tree line. I emerged from the trees wearing a tricornered hat, pullover muslin blouse, pantaloons and carrying a muzzle loader. I took to the podium and explained about the men at Lexington and Concord and about Dawes' ride. His name didn't fit as well as Paul Revere's for Longfellow to immortalize. "Listen my children and you shall hear - - " I told them about how resisting British tyranny was the right thing to do.

I told them about how Joshua Chamberlain and the Twenty First Maine held the line on the left flank at Gettysburg and saved our nation because it was the right thing to do. I named local names. I fired the muzzle loader and the whole audience jumped.

I told them about the Yankee Division in WW1 and WWII and how they stormed the beaches at Normandy because it was the right thing to do. I named local names. Then I took off the muslin shirt and pantaloons to show that I was wearing an olive colored one piece flight suit. I put on my old flight helmet. I told about how the pilots and soldiers fought in Korea and Vietnam. I named local names. I told them that every single helicopter pilot and crewman who fought in Vietnam was a volunteer because it was the right thing to do.

Then I took off the flight suit. Underneath I had on a work shirt and dungarees. I put on a ball cap and looked like anybody in the crowd. I told them we still had courageous patriots right here in Maine fighting for our rights and our homes against those who would take away those rights and drive us all out of Northern Maine. I told them that today's patriots were fighting for us right here in Maine because it was the right thing to do.

There was a very long pause. Maybe they were afraid I would take more clothes off. Maybe they were just stunned. I'm kind of a quiet guy. Maybe they thought I was going to fire the hand gun I was wearing because after all, carrying it is the right thing to do, but I didn't have any blanks. Then they started to clap and cheer and we all went off to eat. It was a pretty good Fourth of July.

That's what it means to me.

[Casper1212]

I'd like to see some fireworks for a change this year. But from what I hear, it's usually like the Canada Day fireworks last night. We went down to the landing at Robbinston. They launched the fireworks. We could hear them, but we couldn't see them for the fog.
We're just going to go looking for a quiet place to cook out and veg out with the dogs.
As for celebrations, don't forget to LEAVE YOUR DECORATIONS UP for the Calais Bicentennial at the end of the month.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by lovemaine

So what's everyone up to on the 4th? We get to spend our first 4th of July in Maine watching the Camden fireworks on July 3rd at Harbor Park. (Don't know why fireworks aren't on the actual 4th, especially with it being on a Saturday...) I'm sure it'll be beautiful!

I just got back from a long time, so I am rather tired, and far behind on my chores

I think we are going to be rather busy.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Somebody asked me to retell a talk I gave several years ago at a 4th of July Gathering about what it means to me.

I'm a veteran and they asked me to give a talk. I found a kid who could play the flute and near the end of the festivities he played Yankee Doodle. As he got into the song he pointed to the tree line. I emerged from the trees wearing a tricornered hat, pullover muslin blouse, pantaloons and carrying a muzzle loader. I took to the podium and explained about the men at Lexington and Concord and about Dawes' ride. His name didn't fit as well as Paul Revere's for Longfellow to immortalize. "Listen my children and you shall hear - - " I told them about how resisting British tyranny was the right thing to do.

I told them about how Joshua Chamberlain and the Twenty First Maine held the line on the left flank at Gettysburg and saved our nation because it was the right thing to do. I named local names. I fired the muzzle loader and the whole audience jumped.

I told them about the Yankee Division in WW1 and WWII and how they stormed the beaches at Normandy because it was the right thing to do. I named local names. Then I took off the muslin shirt and pantaloons to show that I was wearing an olive colored one piece flight suit. I put on my old flight helmet. I told about how the pilots and soldiers fought in Korea and Vietnam. I named local names. I told them that every single helicopter pilot and crewman who fought in Vietnam was a volunteer because it was the right thing to do.

Then I took off the flight suit. Underneath I had on a work shirt and dungarees. I put on a ball cap and looked like anybody in the crowd. I told them we still had courageous patriots right here in Maine fighting for our rights and our homes against those who would take away those rights and drive us all out of Northern Maine. I told them that today's patriots were fighting for us right here in Maine because it was the right thing to do.

There was a very long pause. Maybe they were afraid I would take more clothes off. Maybe they were just stunned. I'm kind of a quiet guy. Maybe they thought I was going to fire the hand gun I was wearing because after all, carrying it is the right thing to do, but I didn't have any blanks. Then they started to clap and cheer and we all went off to eat. It was a pretty good Fourth of July.

That's what it means to me.

Thank-you NMLM for your service to our country as well as your continued dedication and devotion to her outside of military life. Outstanding!!!!! You are a true patriot.

[peachie_in_maine]

Originally Posted by Casper1212

As for celebrations, don't forget to LEAVE YOUR DECORATIONS UP for the Calais Bicentennial at the end of the month.

Sadly... I didn't get my decorations up.. but it's true.. I don't live in Calais.

Originally Posted by CoastalMaine

Thank-you NMLM for your service to our country as well as your continued dedication and devotion to her outside of military life. Outstanding!!!!! You are a true patriot.

I agree!!