Pomp and Dazzle

Fireworks in Ripley County - July 1, 2017

John Adams believed July 2 would be the day America commemorated its independence. In a letter to his wife Abigail, he wrote, “July 2 will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” He believed there should be “pomp and parade, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee submitted the independence resolution but a vote was tabled. A committee was formed. (Why is that not surprising?) On July 2 a vote was tallied and Lee’s resolution passed, with the official adoption of The Declaration of Independence occurring two days later.

On July 4 the following year, Philadelphia hosted the first organized ‘pomp and parade’ with ‘illuminations’ and fanfare that indeed sounds across our continent to this day. Included was a public reading of the Declaration, an aspect of the celebration that apparently didn’t catch on. (I have witnessed that only once - at our local VFW some years ago when David Brooks was commander). On June 28, 1870, Congress made the day a federal holiday.

No matter. The fun starts earlier when the Fourth is in the middle of the week, allowing for long weekends, packed festivals and commercial bonanzas. Noise and illuminations tantalize - or traumatize, depending on one’s perspective - for several days.

Foudroyant appropriately describes the fireworks in the night skies. English speakers borrowed it from the French in the mid 1800’s and used the adjective to mean stunning or dazzling. Those skilled in pyrotechnics certainly dazzle crowds with synchronized light performances that dance across the darkness. They truly are foudroyant!

The word can also mean sudden and overwhelming in effect, an apt description of this day many moons ago when a certain baby made his entrance. He still brightens this momma’s world. Happy birthday, Anthony!