The Fourth of July is upon us. Flags are out, Spotify searches for John Philip Sousa are on the rise and your dog already looks visibly uncomfortable at the mere mention of fireworks.
In many ways, Independence Day is about traditions, and people have their own distinct ways of celebrating. Hot dogs or hamburgers. Parades versus fireworks. Seeing which relative fits the most flag apparel on their person even though it’s not a competition, grandma.
Of course, Hoosiers leave their own Indiana-shaped stamp on the holiday. So we dug through the WFIU and WTIU archives and found some past and present celebrations, first going way back.
Pekin, Indiana (or New Pekin, to be official), is not a large place. The population hovers just around 1,400 people. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in consistency. While Pekin wasn’t the first place to celebrate Independence Day, it has been keeping at it the longest.
People march in Pekin, Indiana's longest recurring Independence Day celebration in 2017. (Photo: Oldest Consecutive 4th of July Celebration in the Nation / Facebook)
Pekin’s Fourth festivities have recurred annually since their first year in 1830. They’ve even been holding it in the same location, what’s now known as Pekin Park, since 1883. That’s commitment.
For more on the celebration, you can listen to A Moment of Indiana History.
Like the Pekin celebration, the symbol of the flag has stood the test of time. The actual fabric flags themselves? Not so much.
Barbara Elder specializes in repair worn out and tattered flags. WTIU’s The Weekly Special caught up with Elder a few years ago to take a look at her process. You can see the whole story below.
Keeping with making sure your red, white and blue is pristine, WFIU’s Focus on Flowers previously ran down several flower species to pick from to match the stars and stripes. You can listen to the full episode here.
There are also a couple different ways to arrange those flowers like a professional. And while it’s a little last-minute to plant your own, it makes for a great shopping list at the local nursery.
Headed for that Independence Day cookout but not that into the barbecue? Earth Eats rounded up a few vegan and vegetarian recipes for a potluck fix without the meat. It even includes a southern classic, fried green tomatoes.
While the Fourth is a good time to gather together on a lazy day off, not everyone’s family members can be there in person. That’s where the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders come in.
Featured by the Weekly Special in 2014, the Riders travel across Indiana to support families of fallen military service members. Some are veterans themselves, some not, but they all work to make sure the family members are cared for through outreach.
And when they roll through town on rumbling motorcycles, they’re impossible to miss.
While traditions are a large part of Independence Day, the holiday gives us a chance to reflect, not only on what has made America home for so many different people, but also where we need to be better.
Have a safe Fourth of July.
Featured photo via Shutterstock.
