The Fourth – 2025

Pataskala

The Fourth of July hit early in Pataskala this year, almost a week early.  Central Ohio’s celebrations are driven by the big fireworks show downtown, “Red, White and Boom”, scheduled for Thursday July 3rd.  So all of the smaller shows try to find a date other than that one, and the City of Pataskala chose Saturday, June 28th.  

Of course, here in Pataskala, it’s more than just the fireworks.  Mayor Compton made this his signature event – and he does a great job.  There’s an entire community “festival” built around “the Fourth”, with music, a car show, vendors and street food.  And it’s on a Saturday because we live in Ohio, and the weather is completely unpredictable.  So if there’s thunder storms all Saturday afternoon, Pataskala moves to Sunday. This year, we did (have the storms and move the date), and then we moved it back. Fireworks went off Saturday night.

The town’s fireworks are pretty good.  And the guy who lives across the street from Foundation Park where the festival is held, puts on almost as good a show on his own, before the “main attraction” begins.  He’s done it for years, even when setting off private fireworks was illegal.  But, here in Pataskala, the police didn’t care about “fireworks” folks anyway.  And now, it’s completely legal to fire off pretty much anything, anytime.  So the “Fourth of July” started last Friday, and you can be sure there will be random shows from now until long after the Fifth!!  

The Dogs

Jenn and I used to go to a friends’ house to watch both the official and “across the street” fireworks shows. But, with four dogs, and living within a mile of the Park, it’s safer to hang out at home.  Atticus (our Lab) doesn’t seem to mind, but Keelie (our Aussie) completely freaks out to booms, and Lou (he’s part dog, part deer) gets very uneasy.  CeCe (our Baby Yoda) takes her cues from them; so being close by is just a good idea.

Besides, lots of folks walk down our street to get a “view”, and that sets the dogs off almost as much as the “BOOMS”. We see a lot of the show from our own backyard anyway; even more now since “straight line wind” came through the neighbor’s yard couple years ago and took out some big trees.  And, when CeCe and Lou went into full panics: we were right there to calm things down. We watched three incredibly violent movies on TV. They don’t mind those “booms”.

Patriotism

I have always been a “patriotic” guy.  Part of that is my Boy Scout training, learning the Flag Code and the history.  It’s hard not to feel patriotic hiking through the mountains along the trails of the Civil War, or visiting our Nation’s landmarks from “sea to shining sea”.  And I am a “Boomer”.  My parents both fought in World War II.  They knew exactly what our Democracy was worth, and they were well aware of the high price  paid by those who defended it.  Celebrating the Fourth, even for my British citizen Mom, was important. (For a series of essays about the Fourth of July – see the list at the end).

There’s a “Resistance” group trying to use the Fourth of July as an opportunity to express disapproval of the current US government.  They are calling on folks to boycott the Fourth, to make that point.  I don’t agree. It’s kind of like folks who don’t fly the American flag now, seeing it as a symbol of oppression, not freedom. 

My Flag

I’m not giving either the Flag or the Fourth away to any “side”.  To me, they represent the hope of a future America; not based on cruelty, but kindness; that doesn’t oppress, but lifts people up; that doesn’t exclude those who are different, but includes all. I didn’t attend the Pataskala fireworks last night, but it isn’t because of my incredible disappointment in America today.  Those fireworks, seen from afar over the backyard fence, represent my hope that our country can be so much better than we demonstrate right now.  

It’s my Fourth, and my Flag, just as much as any other American’s. It’s even for non-citizens; here to live the American dream, like Mom did.  I’m tempted to adapt Charlton Heston’s NRA speech quote, “I’ll give you my Flag when you pry it from my cold, dead hands”.   There is still hope.  

The Serpent

This current abomination of American belief is part of the “dirty underside” of our history.  It’s always been there. As author John Jay Chapman described it:

“There was never any moment in our history when slavery was not a sleeping serpent. It lay coiled up under the table during deliberations of the Constitutional Convention.”

Like any snake, this serpent may have shed its skin, but snake it still remains.  We aren’t talking about the enslaved today. But we are still dealing with race and color, and those who do the manual labor to keep our Nation alive.  The United States is denying our fellow humans the right to a decent and humane life.  It’s a part of our history.  Today’s national dilemma is as old as the Fourth of July itself.

So celebrate what America should be this Fourth of July week, not what it is today.  Take the Flag, take the Fourth, and march with it proudly.  It is ours, not the oppressors.  America shows its ugliness now, but the “shining city on the hill” still can be achieved.

“Whose Flag? Our Flag!” “Whose Fourth? Our Fourth!”

Enjoy it:  and keep your dogs inside for the fireworks!!!

Author: Marty Dahlman

I'm Marty Dahlman. After forty years of teaching and coaching track and cross country, I've finally retired!!! I've also spent a lot of time in politics, working campaigns from local school elections to Presidential campaigns.