I celebrated the Fourth of July on July 1 in Berlin at Tempelhofer Freiheit, a huge open space that had once been an airfield. with thousands of people, most of whom were German and none of whom I knew, at a giant outdoor party with food and beer and music and fireworks . The party was put on by U.S. Ambassador to Germany John Emerson and his wife, Kimberly. At first I felt a bit overwhelmed but after getting a Milk Stout or two under my belt, I started chatting with people and got comfortable. People were having a good time. Just as the sun set, the music This is My Country was piped out and dazzling fireworks began to light up the sky. I found myself getting emotional and it continued with Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. I reflected on my life long appreciation of my country, not the least reason being if I had been born any of the places my great grandparents left to come to the United States before the beginning of the 20th century it is unlikely that I would have lived to be five years old. I don’t know that it was being in Germany. I think participating in a Fourth of July celebration (even if it was on July 1) in a foreign country had an effect on me. Of course, this is sentimental stuff, but sentimentality in the love of one’s country is no sin. So I invite you to go to the two YouTube links below and allow yourself a few minutes to be absorbed by them.
The link to This is My Country with fireworks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heMgiD0xKxI
The link to Born in the USA with fireworks
Marc's Berlin Diaries 