The most patriotic day of the year kicked off early in the morning in Central Texas as parades drew waves and cheers from local residents. In Temple’s historic downtown district, the sun rose over miniature American flags sprung mysteriously in front lawns around the neighborhood. Balconies were suddenly adorned with red-white-and-blue bunting; the phrase “God Bless America” emblazoned homes and storefronts.
Bell County survived the morning without much in the way of rain, but as drops began to accumulate by the middle of the afternoon residents began to worry for their holiday plans.
A group of teenage friends hung out in the kitchen of their friend Thumper Gosney, 17, after watching the Belton Fourth of July Parade. Later that night Thumper said her parents would be holding a Independence Day party upstairs while she and her friends occupy the basement. Rain or not, the house’s covered back porch meant a barbecue would still take place.
But the some of the plans of friend Katie Hunt, 16, were spoiled.
“We were planing to go to Belton Lake,” she said. “But the lakes are all closed.”
Michael Joseph, 19, said he hoped the rain wouldn’t prevent him and his friends from setting off fireworks at a friend’s lake house.
“We’re going to try and set off fireworks,” he said. “Try to set off fireworks.”
So what does the Fourth of July mean to this group? Perhaps a chance to party?
“Well, that too,” said Michelle Lugo, 18. “But also being with friends in the summer.”
“Baseball,” interjected Joseph.
In another neighborhood, a family of Virginia transplants had their first Fourth of July barbecue in their new home. Homemaker Catherine Miller and her husband Clint, a security analyst, barely have any furniture but decided to entertain anyway. They served a complete Independence Day spread complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, beer and, of course, apple pie.
The threat of rain didn’t make Miller think twice about having a party in his backyard.
“Frankly, it just doesn’t rain during my parties,” he said confidently.
Indeed, it did seem that the sprinkles took a break to allow the Millers and company to play in the pool and lounge around the backyard.
But not everyone got the day off on Wednesday.
Temple Police Officer Kenneth Moss helped to oversee security at the H-E-B Fourth of July Family Fun Fest in Miller Park later that afternoon.
Standing in the backdrop of live country music, astro-jumps and funnel cakes, Moss was stoic watching over the commotion. A glimmer of relaxation appeared as he bent down to greet a little girl who asked to shake his hand. He said he volunteered to work the holiday.
“It’s OK for the most part,” he said.
Also at the festival, Vickie Haire, who was lounging on the grass with family members, said she had never missed an Independence Day celebration in Bell County since she was born.
“It’s America’s birthday,” she said. “It’s about family just being together.”
Haire said she hoped that the rain wouldn’t spoil the fireworks show to go on later that night.
“It’s been hit-or-miss showers all day,” she said.
It seemed as if the clouds were on their way out of town just a few hours before the show as a partial arc of a rainbow stretched over the park.
But soon after the rain re-emerged, drenching umbrella-less festivalgoers and forcing the live band to quit. Some departed quickly but most of the crowd stayed underneath cover or toughed it out.
And the wait paid off.
An hour later, the clouds cleared and sparks of every color lit up the sky for the damp crowd below.
The faces of those who stayed expressed pleasure that they stayed long enough for that quintessential Independence Day finale.
mwest@temple-telegram.com
