A 1970s Time Capsule from #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z – U is for US Bicentennial

BLOGGING FROM A TO Z

A 1970’s Time Capsule

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY

The A to Z Challenge has dueling decades going on.  Check out the 1980s theme from a fellow blogger HERE

Bicentennial logo commissioned by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.

On July 4, 1776, the United States celebrated the 200 Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The Bicentennial was more than the celebration of one day. It was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic.  As with most events of this magnitude, a bureaucracy was form.  Congress created the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission July 4, 1966 and plans for the celebration ten years hence got underway.  Initially, the Bicentennial celebration was planned as a single city exposition (titled Expo ’76) that would be staged in either Philadelphia or Boston but after 6½ years of tumultuous debate, the Commission recommended that there should not be a single event, and Congress dissolved it on December 11, 1973, and created the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), which was charged with encouraging and coordinating locally sponsored events.

I played the clarinet in a locally run marching band (not connected with a school) and I remember significantly more parades that year. The one event I especially remember is when we were on the field where fireworks were being set off, we played the Star Spangled Banner during the fireworks display.  It made your whole chest rumble.

I know that all my readers are not from the United States so this event may not have a lot of significance for you.  In the big picture, the United States is just a babe compared to how long other countries have been in existence.  If our 200th Birthday had significance to you, I’d love to hear what you remember about the Bicentennial.

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