RSSJuly 4: What does it all mean?
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Better known for family barbecues, fireworks and all-round generally good times, July 4th doesn't carry the somber reflection of Veterans or Memorial days.
Still, we asked a variety of Yakima Valley residents and visitors their thoughts about what today means, as well as how they planned to celebrate. Here are some of the answers.
There's nothing like leaving your country to help figure out why you love it.
Melinda Wall, 23, an aspiring certified public accountant, spent four months in Brussels, Belgium, where friends liked to question her about politics, patriotism and government.
America's role in Iraq was not the most common question. Instead, queries more often focused on health care and the disparity between rich and poor.
Confronted with all the questions, Wall did some soul searching before explaining about greater freedoms, educational systems, opportunities and the political system. Further, she believes its easier to make money in the United States because of tax laws.
"Being out of the country makes you have to evaluate what it is about your country that you're proud of," she said.
John and Tiffany Whitelatch, both 25, will spend the Fourth of July weekend pouring wine at the Red, White and Blues Festival for the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Tourism event.
"We have to work, but it will be fun work," Tiffany said.
Their family owns Claar Cellars, but the party will be at Silver Lake Winery, where there's a vista of three commercial fireworks displays in the Valley.
They grew up with the Fourth as a time to watch fireworks and barbecue with family members. They still do things like that, but the meaning has become more important lately.
"Like most of the holidays tuned into our nation's identity, it's become more important in the last few years," John said.
A U.S. Army veteran, Ken Lenzi, 38, summed up the meaning of Fourth of July in one word: Sacrifice.
"The sacrifices of all of our forefathers ... to make this country what it is," said the construction supply salesman.
Lenzi served in the 82nd Airborne unit in Panama, the 1991 Persian Gulf War and in South Korea. Lenzi and his family plan to celebrate with a barbecue and swimming party in their Yakima backyard. Many of their guests will be veterans.
Spencer Jim, 39, regards the Fourth of July as a time to visit old friends and make new ones along the streets of Toppenish, known for its fireworks and parades.
"Just getting out, seeing people, saying hi and hello," he said. "Just that one time out of the year people are so kicked back."
The Yakama tribal member grew up near Mabton on the same property he now shares with his mother, Alexina Jim, 67. Every year, Toppenish has more activity on that one day than Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years combined, he says.
"This day makes up for all of that," he said.
This year, he hopes to attend the Wild West Parade in Toppenish with his mother and watch the free fireworks at Legends Casino. He will miss, however, watching bull riding at the Toppenish Powwow and Rodeo, which canceled this year's show this year because of financial troubles.
Sunnyside sporting goods store owner Patricio Castillo, 36, and his family may start their much-anticipated journey to Disneyland on the Fourth.
They usually set off fireworks at his uncle's house outside of town. They typically celebrate the Fourth more than Fiestas Patrias, the independence day of Mexico, where he lived until 1984.
But this year, July 4th takes on special meaning. His wife, Liliana, will take her U.S. citizenship test later this month. He plans to try for his in a year.
As for teaching his children, ages 2, 11, and 14, about American history: "They probably know more than me from school."
Sunnyside cellular phone retail manager and college student Eron Ramirez, 20, plans to visit Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho with friends, a departure from his usual fireworks activities.
He's always lived near Indian reservations and taken advantage of the assortment of stands that are illegal in many neighboring communities. At his stepfather's house in Oregon, "We were the show."
However, as he has gotten older, the meaning of the Fourth of July has become more poignant for him. He thinks often of his sisters, ages 19 and 24, both new in the military. Neither of them has been overseas yet.
"You start seeing it differently the more you start maturing," he said. "There's a little bit more to it."
Troy Schilperoort, 59, is a Vietnam War veteran who grows barley, alfalfa and corn near Sunnyside.
The VFW member expects to spend the day at a barbecue with friends or fishing on the Columbia River near Roosevelt.
Schilperoort has a lot of family in the military. His nephew, Landon Schilperoort, was awarded the bronze start for his work as a U.S. Army helicopter mechanic in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Others were Japanese prisoners of war during World War II.
He remembers those folks all year, not just on Fourth of July.
"I'd like to think I'm a patriotic kind of guy 365 days of the year," he said.
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