Happy 4th of July to my American friends.

I thought I'd start a thread where we can post some of our favorite patriotic songs in honor of the holiday. I have a few favorites but will start with this one. You Tube had several versions of this song but I chose this one.

Having lost my mother recently and my father a year and a half ago, I thought I share this wonderful song, kind of as a tribute to my grandparents & father, who came to America, the land of the free, and "made it" here in America.

I play this song every year. It's one you need to crank up the volume. Btw, great shots of an early Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty. I feel as though my relatives could be among the crowd. One of Neil Diamond's best IMHO.



TIS

Very good song, TIS, especially for the Fourth...although Jan Brewer may not be playing it this year.

Like the other summer holidays, I'll be celebrating with friends. My best friend and his family, who live nearby, and my family usually alternate hosting the party. This year he has it. He was the Director of the U.S. Military Reserves for a few years in the Pentagon, and so several colonels and generals, stationed at the Pentagon (but without family in the D.C. area) have been coming to the parties for the past few years. We're less than two hours away, so they make the trip.

They're a fun crowd, but with the holiday falling midweek, they may have to tone it down a little.

Happy Fourth of July to all. Let freedom ring.

I know. Having it fall on a Wednesday pretty much sucks. Can't tack it on to a long weekend.

I'm having dinner at my house. One of my daughters is out of town but the other daughter and her family are coming over. I have a community pool here in my condo so I'm sure we'll go there. Nothing extraordinary but still nice.


TIS

For me, there's the soundtrack to the film version of the musical 1776 (restored versions only, please).

Simply one of the best musicals ever, IMO.



Signor V.

I like the Neil Diamond song too.

Your 4th plans sound nice TIS!

Having a Wed holiday makes it feel like there are two Mondays in the same week.

This is one of my favorite songs about America from my favorite artist.

Good one Goombah! How are you doing btw?


Was watching the President's swearing in ceremony of new U.S. Citizens. What an appropriate day for it

Btw, a lot of military people. How is it we allow people to serve in our arm forces that are NOT citizens? Seems like that's asking quite a bit. If you can fight for our country than you should automatically become a citizen.

TIS

I am well TIS. Hope you are too!

Ok this is a tongue in cheek song. But it was written about the Statue of Liberty. And the beginning is funny and vintage DLR.

[video:myspace]http://www.myspace.com/video/aerogirlee/david-lee-roth-yankee-rose-1986/5289961[/video]

Ha ha ha! I forgot all about that one. I must admit I had no idea it was about the Statue of Liberty.

I forgot about the goofy characters DLR had in some of his videos. Boy, don't see him anymore do ya?



TIS

How about the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island? Joey Chestnut renewed his championship by eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. 68 franks in ten minutes????

I used to be able to eat A LOT in one sitting, but I think even then my best might be nine or ten franks; but 68??

He'll be playing some patriotic songs later.... with lots of bass.

I saw that on the news. I like to eat just like anyone else,but I'd be damned if I'd ever get in an eating contest. It's not worth how horribly sick I imagine you'd get. Btw, what kind of prize did he get?



TIS

Happy 4th. Gangster BB. Enjoy the day.

A year's supply of hot dogs.

I'm kinda fond of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA". It was big at 9/11. I remember he sang it at Yankee Stadium.

Yankee Doodle Dandy. I played the part of George M Cohan in the musical "George M". That one will always stick in my head. My grandson sings it quite well for a 2 year old.

There is a procedure to get these folks citizenship quickly:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/m...000082ca60aRCRD

Thanks for the link mustachepete!

My daughter and her family went to see fireworks last night. She told me they were disappointed because it took so long between fireworks. They'd have one and then it took about five minutes for the next firework.

I heard one better this morning on the radio. Apparently San Diego is known to have some of the state's best fireworks. HOWEVER, due to an as yet undetermined glitch, ALL the fireworks went off at once. What was to be an 18 minute fireworks show was over in 15 seconds. 500,000 people were obviously disappointed and from what I gather, they paid admission as well. Ha ha Can't un-ring that bell.

Oh, this morning they said that it was millions (forgot exact #) of dollars worth of fireworks.


TIS



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts...s=rss_lifestyle

A few years ago a guy, who lives a few blocks from me, was preparing for a holiday fireworks extravaganza later that night. The fireworks were kept in his garage, but as he was constructing a platform, from which to launch the fireworks, a spark from his drill ignited a few fireworks, which lit some more, and within 30 seconds the entire stash had exploded, causing a big fire in the garage, which he lost along with the side of his house.

Wow, that's terrible. I assume nobody got hurt? One July 4th he'll NEVER forget that's for sure. And here I always thought sparklers could be dangerous when my kids used them.

TIS