Independence Day is a time to remember the nation’s history. It’s also about community.
Our Ohio Valley communities show this each year with a variety of special celebrations, from grand fireworks displays to live musical performances, to street fairs, contests, and more.
Typically, I find myself focusing solely on activities in Weirton, but some adjustments made in recent months resulted in my bouncing around a few of our local cities the weekend of July 4.
That started in Weirton July 3, with the annual performance by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. Usually, I enjoy this concert, and have been able to stay for the entire performance in recent years to catch the selections of traditional marches, tunes from popular culture, and variations on folk songs, all culminating with a performance of the main theme from "Star Wars" and a fireworks display lighting up the sky.
It was hot this year, and after several days of temperatures in the high 90s, I just felt a bit drained and only stayed until the intermission.
I got up bright and early Saturday morning, stopping at a local big box to grab some sunscreen (SPF 70) and made my way to Wellsburg. It was the first time I had been able to see the Oil Can Derby, which has become a bit of a legend in local July 4 festivities.
Wellsburg goes all-out with their Independence Day celebrations, holding events for a full week, with concerts just about every night, a 5K race, various competitions, and opportunities for people near and far to gather in fellowship.
If my schedule hadn’t been as full, I would have stuck around longer, both to see more and because I later found out some friends from high school were in town and I would have liked to catch up with them in person instead of through social media posts.
The next stop was Chester, which traditionally has a big day of activities themselves, with a 5K of its own, a parade, car show, vendors lining the streets, the duck race in which little rubber ducks are floated down the main road in town, and concerts.
This year, timing led to a new mural being dedicated on July 4, so that was the focus. In the works for the last couple of months, the mural pays tribute to Rock Springs Park, an amusement park which once called Chester home. It was located on land which now includes a portion of the Jennings Randolph Bridge and the World’s Largest Teapot (yes, I’m still calling it that despite the claims of the attraction in Texas).
The dedication was well attended, with people coming to see the finished product and, possibly, to check out their own contributions. The mural included an underpainting layer, with names of families and businesses, handprints of local youth, and other inclusions shining through the completed image. It provides a unique component.
It wasn’t all an ideal day, of course.
Just around 5 o’clock, the time scheduled this year for Weirton’s parade, a thunderstorm rolled across the Ohio Valley, drenching pretty much anyone standing outside at the moment.
Parade organizers did hold off about 10 to 15 minutes from sending the units out onto the route, providing some time for the wave of heavy rain to pass by, but there was another round on its way.
Obviously, there were some upset and disappointed people because of the turn of events. I know I received a few comments through social media, and I’m sure the actual parade organizers have heard from people as well.
I understand people weren’t happy. I had an umbrella with me, and while most of me was able to stay clear of the raindrops, I still went home with soggy socks and shoes. There were others with equipment, musical instruments, and more, not able to travel along the parade route with rain gear.
Several of the vendors for the planned street fair departed before it officially began.
It really is a "darned" if you do or don’t situation. The events go forward despite the weather, people complain, they get canceled because of the weather and people still complain.
Look, we can’t control the weather. We can’t control the responses from other people. Some days plans fall in line with the way we would like, and others they completely fall apart. But, it’s all about community. We come together and make the best of the situation, and if you think you can handle it any better, feel free to step up and lend a hand next year.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is part of the news staff of The Weirton Daily Times. He can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)