Families and friends will gather together today to celebrate our nation’s independence, and many have longstanding traditions that bring much merriment to the holiday. Here are some things you might want to do this 4th of July:

Activities: Watching fireworks over the beach or the bay, grilling, picnics, swimming, hot dog and watermelon-eating contests, parades, baseball games, singing patriotic songs, boating, attending colonial reenactments and festivities, star-gazing, Ping-Pong tournaments, watching patriotic movies, card games, enjoying time with family and friends, reminiscing about our nation’s history and bravery

Food: Hot dogs, watermelon, S’mores, hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob, ice cream, baked beans, apple pie, potato salad, vanilla cake with berries in the form of an American flag

Decorations: American flags, sparklers, bandanas, glitter, sidewalk chalk, candles, lanterns, periwinkles, impatiens, carnations, and wearing anything red, white, and blue

We hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July!

The Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.