Let Freedom Ring

While most everyone else in the country was grilling, drinking, and preparing to go watch fireworks, I attended an alternative Fourth of July event. A local resident had the idea of ringing bells to celebrate our country's freedom and remember those who fought to win that freedom for us. He didn't have much time to get the word out, but we went ahead with it anyway.

There were about 20 of us who gathered around the bell at the local middle school. At 6 pm, we all rang the bells we had brought along. Bells of all shapes and sizes, from little jingle bells to the large bell mounted permanently in the ground, rang for the duration of one minute.

I really enjoyed the event. I'm not much a fan of fireworks. It seems an awfully wasteful use of money...not to mention the danger involved with fireworks. Ringing bells is a much nicer way to celebrate, and it was fun to see people from the neighborhood that I hadn't seen in years.

Read about our newest July Fourth event and help spread the idea across the country!