On My Independence Day Plans

July 4th.

Two epochal, world-changing events have fallen on July 4th.

The first comes on July 4, 1776. In Kent that day, Horatio Hornblower was born, and he would become one of the Royal Navy’s greatest heroes, distinguishing himself at an early age and playing a significant role in the defeat of Napoleon.

The second epochal, world-changing event on July 4th came fifteen years ago. On July 4, 1996, President Thomas Whitmore and a ragtag group of pilots, some Air Force, some civilian, fought in a last-ditch attempt against the alien invaders that had come from the stars in their giant saucers. Ever since that day, July 4th has been known as Independence Day.

I’m going to spend this Independence Day in Washington, DC, which has recovered well from the alien attack of 1996. I’ll take in a baseball game at Nationals Park (the Nationals are taking on the Cubs :cubs: ), and then I’ll attend a concert of patriotic music on the capitol lawn.

I’ll spare a thought for Hornblower, and I’ll think of the lives tragically lost in the war fifteen years ago.

That’s how I’ll spend my Independence Day. :spock:

Published by Allyn

A writer, editor, journalist, sometimes coder, occasional historian, and all-around scholar, Allyn Gibson is the writer for Diamond Comic Distributors' monthly PREVIEWS catalog, used by comic book shops and throughout the comics industry, and the editor for its monthly order forms. In his over ten years in the industry, Allyn has interviewed comics creators and pop culture celebrities, covered conventions, analyzed industry revenue trends, and written copy for comics, toys, and other pop culture merchandise. Allyn is also known for his short fiction (including the Star Trek story "Make-Believe,"the Doctor Who short story "The Spindle of Necessity," and the ReDeus story "The Ginger Kid"). Allyn has been blogging regularly with WordPress since 2004.

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