Art
Every Fourth of July, Americans took to the streets to celebrate their nation's founding. These parades—marching bands, floats, speeches, and crowds—were how ordinary people participated in civic life and reaffirmed their belonging to the country.
Art · Full story
The brass band rounds the corner onto Front Street, and the crowd surges forward. Children sit on fathers' shoulders to catch sight of the decorated wagons rolling past. Flags wave from windows above, and neighbors who rarely speak nod and smile at each other in the summer heat.
Reflect
When have you felt most connected to your community through a public gathering or celebration?