It is well known that our community is filled with opinionated people and I am one of them.  But, sometimes we need to take time to express our opinion about something that we really liked.  So, in that spirit, let me say, that in my opinion, the town’s Fourth of July at Kenan Stadium was the very best ever.

All of the people involved in the planning, execution, supervision, and funding of the evening deserve a big thanks for making it so special.

Parks and Recreation Manager Wes Tilghman and his staff, all of the UNC personnel involved, the fire department, the public safety officers, everyone who worked so hard to celebrate America’s birthday in such a fine fashion, should be praised.

And we can’t forget the outstanding musical group, the brave souls who entered the watermelon eating contest, the Honor Guard, the group that sang the national anthem, and all of the sponsors who helped with the financial support.  And Grace Church with the glowsticks.

One man who also deserves our thanks is M.C. Ron Stutts as he makes any program more special than it might have been otherwise.

Yes.  We all have opinions.

I hope that the thousands of people who came to Kenan for the fourth agree.  We had one heck of a birthday celebration with the kind of old-fashioned fireworks that made us all sit up and take notice.

Let’s do it again next year.

 

— Fred Black

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