By Liz Mitchell
It’s not too late to plan your July visit to
Brunswick, N.C. This U. S. holiday is all about family gatherings, and we extend our invitation for you to enjoy being part of our family during an important festival week. The state’s official July 4 celebration is based in Southport, with many events at the beautiful waterfront. Along with food, music and fireworks, we recognize our love for this country with several tributes to our flag. Join us to learn about these important and moving observances of our nation’s birthday.
The impressive naturalization ceremony at 4 pm on July 4 on the Fort Johnston’s Garrison House Lawn will welcome approximately 150 new citizens. They take the Oath of Citizenship followed by canon firings and a water canon salute from a military fireboat in the harbor spraying red, white and blue.
The retiring of the flag is a somber ritual scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 4. The nation’s flag code states that a flag in poor condition should be destroyed in a dignified way, beginning with separating the stars and the stripes and then by burning. Hundreds of flags are discarded throughout our county each year. One is retired in this annual ceremony, and additional ones later are properly burned by Boy Scout troops.
The raising of the flag at 10:30 a.m. on July 5 begins with a procession from the Southport Community Building. The colonial band with the sounds of drum and fife and costumed participants leads our public officials to the central spot where the Knights of Columbus raise a flag that has been flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
See the NC Fourth of July
website for details of much more to see and do. You might establish some new traditions while celebrating the history and heritage of our country.