Published Sunday, June 28, 2009

Small-town America ready to display its patriotic spirit

Editorial

Coweta County is gearing up for a patriotic red, white and blue celebration for the Fourth of July. Small-town America at its best will be on display throughout our county next weekend as Fourth celebrations take place on both Saturday and Sunday.

From Moreland to Newnan to Senoia to Haralson, and throughout the county, the Fourth of July is a big deal. There will be barbecue, arts and crafts fairs, parades, fireworks and plenty of other food and entertainment to fulfill your patriotic fancy.

There's simply no better place to celebrate our country's birthday than right here at home.

Moreland will again set the patriotic tone early in the day on the Fourth with its arts and crafts program and traditional barbecue. Folks from all around gather in the South Coweta town for the good food and fellowship on the morning of the Fourth.

Newnan will again have its traditional afternoon Fourth of July parade through downtown. The parade ends at Newnan High School around 6:30 p.m. That's when the Newnan Rotary Club's annual family evening of food, entertainment and fireworks begins at Drake Stadium on the high school campus. This free program attracts the largest crowd of the year in our community. Thousands pack the stadium and surrounding areas during the evening, which concludes with the giant fireworks show at dark.

Other programs are planned in Senoia and Haralson as the entire county gets into the celebration.

This year, as on all Fourth celebrations, we give thanks for our great nation and for the freedom we enjoy. On this 233rd birthday, our nation is at war, with servicemen and women on duty in faraway places protecting our freedom and seeking to spread freedom to others. Our thoughts and prayers are with those brave servants as we get ready to wave the red, white and blue here at home.

Happy birthday, America.