Patriots

Our first 4th of July in a city that perpetually celebrates the birth of our nation and history continues to unfold around us. Yesterday, Craig and the kids climbed the steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument and we sought to understand the role of our neighborhood in the revolutionary war through the exhibits in the adjacent museum. Craig sang the corresponding School House Rock song to link everything together for the kids and whether he succeeded or not, we all got a kick out of his performance.



We left the house this morning and walked the short length of pier one to honor the celebrated elder in American history as she took her annual turn about the harbor. Next year the USS Constitution will mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and her first battle by sailing under her own power. But, even with assistance, Old Ironsides dominated the harbor, her masts proudly raised, as she followed a fireboat that spewed water like a floating fountain and filled the wide berth that the gunned Coast Guard boats, the harbor police and the park service fleet provided her for an outing to Castle Island and back.

An even larger crowd gathered in the steamy, sun-drenched afternoon, for the frigate's return to port. She paused before the Coast Guard Unit, equally festive under an arc of colored flags, and sent off a seventeen gun salute to the delight of the crowds along the piers and the boaters in the water (most headed in a line toward the locks and then on up the Charles River for the Boston Pops and fireworks later in the evening). People even left the refreshing waters of the pool complex across the harbor and gathered along the fence to watch the Constitution. In no time her naval crew, in period uniforms, the ribbons on their hats waving in the wind, had her home, this time with her bow pointing out.

Rem provided a running commentary for our enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of the fifty people closest to us that included actual observations about the ship such as the guns and the vast quantities of rope that he saw. He also spun elaborate tales of escapades, both past and future ones, highlighting his service on board.

Miren and Lise, both having slept through the morning's activities, complained about the heat and the sun's glare until the ship glided in front of them. Even they, difficult as they are to impress, smiled at the imposing presence of Old Ironsides and waited until she was fully back in port before one called the other stupid and we walked with the crowds back toward our house. Rem and Lise have just run out of the house, having already learned to time the evening gun blast so that they can watch and maybe help with taking down the colors on this, our first 4th of July in Boston.