This editorial appears in the July 3 Yakima Herald-Republic

If John Adams, one of our nation's Founding Fathers, had his way, we would be celebrating our Independence Day two days earlier, on July 2.

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America," he wrote to his wife, Abigail. "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."

It was on that date, July 2, that Congress approved in a secret session a resolution of independence that legally separated the American colonies from Great Britain.

Adams envisioned lots of pomp and parades, celebratory gunfire and bonfires from one corner of the new nation to the other.

Well, he got the parades and the pomp correct. But Americans decided otherwise, choosing to party on July 4, the date shown on another historic document, the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson helped to craft.

In sync with Adams' wishes, Independence Day celebrations will indeed span our region, from Cle Elum in the north to Prosser and Maryhill Museum along the Columbia Gorge in the south.

Cle Elum will hold its annual Pioneer Days on Saturday and Sunday with a parade and a youth fishing derby. At nearby Suncadia, activities begin today and stretch through the weekend with games, music, a watermelon eating contest and a 10k run on Sunday.

More festivities take place in Ellensburg on the Fourth, with food vendors and fireworks at dusk.

Naches will honor the holiday with live music, a "Guitar Hero" contest and food booths. Granger will hold its distinctive Din-O-Mite gathering. Prosser will feature a car show and Toppenish will unveil its annual Wild West parade. These four cities will also light up the skies at night with a barrage of fireworks.

Maryhill Museum has decided to eschew the explosives, going instead with a more elegant laser light show at 10 p.m. Earlier on the Fourth, the museum will open its doors for free to children accompanied by one paid adult and will offer
flag-making as a family activity later in the afternoon.

But the biggest celebration still remains at State Fair Park in Yakima with the One World, One Valley, One Nation festivities beginning at noon. The free event offers children's activities, entertainment, food vendors, and fireworks at 10 p.m. Carnival rides, for a price, will also be set up at the fairgrounds. The Yakima Herald-Republic is proud to be a presenting sponsor of this annual event.

If he were alive, John Adams would no doubt take great delight in these many celebrations. But he would also remind those of us celebrating that we enjoy the freedoms of this nation because of the many sacrifices of the men and women serving in our armed forces, especially now in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We also must be mindful of those who are struggling financially due to the nation's recession. Thankfully, our agriculture-based economy here has not experienced the severe downturn that other parts of the country have suffered.

So we encourage residents here to enjoy the Fourth. But please don't overindulge and please don't experiment with bonfires and incendiary devices. Though Adams envisioned those in his letter to his wife, it's better to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

But when it comes to loud kazoos and party hats resplendent in festive red, white and blue -- we figure the more the merrier.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.