It just seems as if summer is flying by.
Here we are at July 4, 2012, on Wednesday. Now I know there is some consternation about which weekend the Fourth of July celebration should fall or if we should just celebrate all week! Many are lamenting the fact the holiday falling in the middle of the week spoils plans for days off in the three or four holiday weekends off from work. While I think we all appreciate time off, I think it is also important that we remember Independence Day is a celebration of the birth of our country. Please remember this is the celebration of the Declaration of Independence - and this should be a great celebration.
I was talking with a friend the other day and we were discussing the fact that many times we do not realize how lucky we really are. We have rights and privileges many, many countries do not have. Sometimes we all lose track of these rights, and it is all tied in with the Declaration of Independence and the United States of America emerging as a great nation. Please take a little time to stop and reflect on these thoughts sometime during your celebration of the Fourth of July.
While you are thinking about the Independence Day Celebration take a moment to stop and think about was has occurred right here in Jamestown over the past 10 years. We have seen great strides made in the improvement of our community. From our downtown to our neighborhoods to our entire community, people returning to Jamestown, and new visitors arriving in Jamestown all remark about the fact they recognize great efforts to revitalize our community are being made by the community.
Jamestown is looking great! This has been accomplished by everyone working together - both our public and private sectors. This has been able to happen because we have the concepts created by the Declaration of Independence.
I am always looking around and researching special ideas revolving around the subject we are writing about. I did find a special article I thought you might be interested in - especially since many will be attending picnics and barbecues. Did you know the Fourth of July calls for Yankee Baked Beans? Well it does, and according to Jan Greco, a food blogger, beans are a perfect side dish for your Fourth of July barbecue. After research it turns out that people really do love baked beans - I know I do. In conjunction with this I also found out that July is National Baked Bean Month. Apparently baked beans have been a staple for Independence Day Celebrations from the start.
I thought I would finish today with a poem regarding Independence Day and one of our favorite barbecue foods -baked beans.
"The pot of bak'd beans! With what pleasure I view it
Well season', well pork'd by some rosy-faced dame.
And when from the glowing hot oven she drew it,
Well crisp'd and well brown'd to the table it came.
O give me my country, the land of my teens,
Of the plump Indian pudding and pot of baked Beans."
A. Yankee, 1829.
I thought at least some of you would find great comfort in knowing the real facts about beans and the Fourth of July. With that please have a great, safe and fun Fourth of July from all of us here at DJDC!
Source: Fourth of July calls for Yankee Baked Beans, Baristanet, and Jan Greco.