July 4th Festivities

From the time I was accepted to be a John Glenn fellow, I could not wait to spend the 4^th of July in our nation’s Capitol. I was so excited to enjoy and participate in the countless festivities the city had to offer. The 4^th of July quickly approached, as it is hard to believe we have already been living in the city for almost a full month. Not only did we see a parade and fireworks, but I also got to spend the day with numerous other Buckeyes I didn’t even know were living here.

The 4^th of July parade was definitely the best part of the day. We sat at the corner of 7^th and Constitution, which was the very beginning of the parade. Countless people were lining the streets, starting early in the morning, as the parade kicked off about 11:45am. The parade had numerous bands, floats, and cyclists. Vendors lined the streets selling American flags, water and pop, and hot dogs and ice cream for all the families and residents patiently waiting for the parade to begin. Ironically, a group carrying an American flag in the parade, walking right in front of us yelled OH and was welcomed with an IO in response. It was very cool to see that there really are Buckeyes all over the world. I also felt really bad for the students in band uniforms who were being squirted with water to try and stay cool, which was probably not possible on such a hot day. The participants came from all over the country such as Arizona, Michigan, Washington and many more.

Later that night, watching the fireworks from the Capitol Building was also a unique experience. Although there was a bright light interfering with the fireworks, being amongst the endless amount of people in our nation’s Capitol was an incomparable experience. The half hour firework show was beautiful, although being a little closer in proximity could have definitely altered the show. It was also highly entertaining listening to the complaints of other spectators nearby. I am happy to report that next summer, they will be hosting 4^th of July at their home rather than in our nation’s Capitol. I hope fireworks on their boat will be a much better experience for them. Who needs music for fireworks when you have unpaid commentators on either side. Spending the 4^th in Washington D.C. was extremely unique and an experience I will always remember. 

-Ariel Cohen