A country's birthday is a big event in any nation's history. This year is the 250th birthday of the US. My home town, Lexington is arguably the birthplace of the country where the "first shot that was heard around the world" was fired" in 1775 on April 19th. These facts was taught in civic lessons of every US elementary school. The only time I saw a US. President at close range was at the Becentenial in 1975 when Presient Ford came to town to take part in the celebarion. 

 Prepatation for the 250th celebration was started years in adance. Events and celebrations were planned around the actual date 4/19/2025- a Saturday - a perfect warm but not hot sunny Mid Spring day. For our family, the celebration started on 4/14/2025 when the town re-assembled and re-honored all past recipients of awards given by the town for public services and volunteer contributions. My wife was the oldeiest living recipints (and the only Chinese American woman) of the hightest award that the town of Lexington can bestowed on a resident for volunteer service to the town (in 2017). You have to be at least 80 years old and lived in the town for at least 15 years to be eligible. The celebrations finished on 4/22/2025 at a citizenship swearing in ceremony conducted on the Battle Green Common of Lexington where my wife again was the featured speaker invited to address the new citizens of this country at this most appropriate historical location. BTW, in 1961 when  I was naturalized as a U.S. citizen, it took place in a simple non-descript court house with a judge who was presiding the ceremony - not a memeorable event but emotionally memoriable for me. Nowadays, people come to realize the importantce of the ceremony. Hisotrical and scenic locations throughout the country compete to host such most meaningful events. The ceremony is most equoently captured by by the short setnence etched in the wall of the Florida Epcot center about becoming a U.S. citizen not by birthright but through Naturalization - By the stroke of one hand, the judge wipes away thoudands of dead yerterdays and! welcomes you to a million bright tomorrows -  Welcome to America you earnedit! .(I cannot votch for the complete accuracy of this quote since it was some 50 years ago when I read it. But its intended meaning stayed with me all these years).

Anyway back to 4/19/2025, every year there are always a Patroits Day parade consisting about 50 some marching units sponsered by verious organizations which march from easr end of the town through town center and finish up in the western part of the town. This year the number of units swell to 130+. The seniors of Brookhaven CCRC (with my wife participating and 12 other senior from 13 different countries) sponsered a banner which proclaims -. Immigration  Let it continue!  All the seniors march along the 2 mile long route. Because of possibility of counter protestors and violance, there was heavy FBI, State, and local police presence everywhere. Many roads and streets were blocked along the parade route. Thus, it became a nightmare for me to arrange the logsitics/transporations for all the celebrations along the parade route that I wish to see. My 91 year old body just will not survive the ardous task. The only and obvious solution was to stay home and watch the entire celebration on wide screen TV. Yes I give up the bragging right for being there but with modern technology I got to see everything close up with on-the-spot interviews even switching between events simultaneously. I did not miss anything lying in bed recovering from a "mild" illness (another story for my next blog article). Citizens of the world wil have plenty of chance to see futue documentaries of this day.