Over the course of the last week, Life team members have engaged with independence-minded events, festivals and parades all across Northwest Indiana. What struck me about all those interactions as I did a long walk through Valpo's fireworks/concert/picnic/get together was how diverse the people within each town are, and how similar the basic premise is- get together with family, friends and a "community" of people you like to hang out with.
Eat a bit, drink a bit, splash a little bit if you can to stay cool and celebrate that we all have the right to do it darn near however we please. Walking through the parking lot and fields of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, through the couple of church grounds, past ValPlayso and in and out of the neighborhoods surrounding, I saw a little bit of everyone. The guy and his dog sitting in the back of his truck, the family getting together for a graduation/fireworks party, the young couple on a date in the park, the teenager practicing walking the tight rope between trees, the veterans sitting quietly and the kids with the nonstop appetite for Valpo Velvet.
There were plenty of scheduled pieces, like the fireworks, Mr. Rosario and Mr. Pritchett leading the band, a beautiful reading of the Declaration of Independence by a group of our neighbors led by Brian Williams and Alan Bloom and some great "warm up" tunes from Valpo's own Crawpuppies.
However, most impactful to me were all the events that weren't part of the schedule for the day. The kids' eyes watching the glow in the dark toys, the oohs and aahs of a community watching colorful explosions, the spectrum of people all celebrating in their own way on the driveway or in their backyard, under the shade of their garages or trees and the kids walking around with their friends.
It was a hot night in Valpo and everywhere throughout the Region, and we love capturing cool people enjoying it.
Click here for more great photos of the Valparaiso 4th of July Blast!