Besides being a day set aside for parades and relaxed fun, July 4 still holds a visceral sense of meaning to many people like the ones who lined Beechmont Avenue in Anderson Township Tuesday morning. They turned out to watch and cheer and applaud, but also to mark the nation's birthday. Jon and Laura Lytle watched eagerly for Navy veteran Lee Stegmann, who is 76 and a Navy veteran. Like Anderson Township itself, Stegmann is still all in with America, something he handed down to his daughter."I am so thankful to have him for a father," she said. "So, he put that in me to feel thankful for our country and the freedoms that with have."So, too, in Northside, where the politics may differ and the street celebration could be considered much looser, but the vibe has a similar strain. It’s America’s 247th birthday, and this neighborhood wraps its arms around that in its own way."It's just always so fun and you know it's one of the more progressive parades in Cincinnati," said Mieke Clincy, of Clifton, as she waited along Hamilton Avenue near Pullan."And you do get kind of the end of Pride Month to come into the parade a little bit. That kind of feel and we just love the family nature of it. I bring my kids. I have three of my kids sitting' over here."The drumbeat of Independence Day has a rhythm that is recognized regardless of differences, which is reassuring to folks, like Ronald Pinkerton, who is Northside through and through."I like this parade because it has a little bit of everything," he said with a smile. In the early hours of Fretboard Brewery's Red White and Blue Ash event at Summit Park, the whispers about possible rain were shouted down. This is the summer calendar’s fireworks night, after all. Tami Alexander of Bridgetown wasn't having any cloud consideration."Fireworks are amazing. You can't find anything better and I'd recommend it to anyone out there," Alexander said. Asked about the lack of umbrellas, she said, "Not worried a bit. It's going to be so fun no matter what."Fourth of July celebrations also commenced in Fort Thomas, where the annual Firecracker 5K race kicked off Tuesday morning.It's a time for family and friends to connect with each other including first-place winner William Doering, who ran while pushing his daughter in a stroller."Running is a lifestyle. It's in my blood. So to include her in that and her wanting to be a part of it is just immense," Doering said.Runners say they enjoy spending time with their community each year, including first-place female winner Amy Krause."It's always exciting to be first, and I love it from like a woman's perspective because when you're leading a race as a woman, like every other woman, cheers for you. Like, 'the first female, you go girl.' And that just means a lot to like represent women out there, and all the women are excited," Krause said.
Besides being a day set aside for parades and relaxed fun, July 4 still holds a visceral sense of meaning to many people like the ones who lined Beechmont Avenue in Anderson Township Tuesday morning.
They turned out to watch and cheer and applaud, but also to mark the nation's birthday. Jon and Laura Lytle watched eagerly for Navy veteran Lee Stegmann, who is 76 and a Navy veteran.
Like Anderson Township itself, Stegmann is still all in with America, something he handed down to his daughter.
"I am so thankful to have him for a father," she said. "So, he put that in me to feel thankful for our country and the freedoms that with have."
So, too, in Northside, where the politics may differ and the street celebration could be considered much looser, but the vibe has a similar strain.
It’s America’s 247th birthday, and this neighborhood wraps its arms around that in its own way.
"It's just always so fun and you know it's one of the more progressive parades in Cincinnati," said Mieke Clincy, of Clifton, as she waited along Hamilton Avenue near Pullan.
"And you do get kind of the end of Pride Month to come into the parade a little bit. That kind of feel and we just love the family nature of it. I bring my kids. I have three of my kids sitting' over here."
The drumbeat of Independence Day has a rhythm that is recognized regardless of differences, which is reassuring to folks, like Ronald Pinkerton, who is Northside through and through.
"I like this parade because it has a little bit of everything," he said with a smile.
In the early hours of Fretboard Brewery's Red White and Blue Ash event at Summit Park, the whispers about possible rain were shouted down.
This is the summer calendar’s fireworks night, after all.
Tami Alexander of Bridgetown wasn't having any cloud consideration.
"Fireworks are amazing. You can't find anything better and I'd recommend it to anyone out there," Alexander said.
Asked about the lack of umbrellas, she said, "Not worried a bit. It's going to be so fun no matter what."
Fourth of July celebrations also commenced in Fort Thomas, where the annual Firecracker 5K race kicked off Tuesday morning.
It's a time for family and friends to connect with each other including first-place winner William Doering, who ran while pushing his daughter in a stroller.
"Running is a lifestyle. It's in my blood. So to include her in that and her wanting to be a part of it is just immense," Doering said.
Runners say they enjoy spending time with their community each year, including first-place female winner Amy Krause.
"It's always exciting to be first, and I love it from like a woman's perspective because when you're leading a race as a woman, like every other woman, cheers for you. Like, 'the first female, you go girl.' And that just means a lot to like represent women out there, and all the women are excited," Krause said.
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