Day 14 - 7/4

Today is Independence Day! A lot of people say that Boston is the best place to celebrate the fourth of July. While the Declaration of Independence may have been signed in Philadelphia, there are many historically significant places and people in Boston that played a major role in the American Revolution. We went to the current City Hall using Boston's subway system the T. Since there are no subway systems in Seattle, it was a fun experience to get on and hold the railings from stop to stop. We listened to a Navy band play and heard a couple of speakers talk about the significance of the Fourth of July. We then followed a parade of Navy people marching and some marching bands playing. They stopped at a cemetery and talked a little about some famous Bostonians such as John Hancock and Samuel Adams. After that the parade continued on to the Old State House, where they read the entire Declaration of Independence.  This was where it was originally read to the residence of Boston for the first time on July 18, 1776.  Hearing the first section of it sent chills in me. The freedoms we have are very precious and rare in the history of human civilization. I am grateful for those men who decided to risk their lives and property to further a cause that has blessed millions of people.

After hearing the Declaration, we went with my Dad's cousin's family and did a treasure hunt that led us to different sites of Boston. There would be a clue and we would have to travel to a certain location and find a word or picture. This scavenger hunt was fun to do because it led us to places that weren't just on the Freedom Trail.  We saw places with interesting history and architecture. Later when we finished the Treasure Hunt, we got Slurpees to celebrate. Since our feet were hurting we went to the Boston Commons where they had the Frog Pond. It is a cement pond that is only about 6 inches deep. There is also a water spout that blows water out. Lots of people were wading in it and little kids had fun swimming and playing.