Patriots party like it's July 4th.Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard SPRINGFIELD - You've got to like a liberty party where they let you in for free. But that wasn't the main reason Pastor Chester Turrell sat basking in the shade at the Springfield's Light of Liberty Independence Day celebration. Turrell, who, as a veteran, didn't have to pay the $6 admission, was jazzed to see one of his favorite musicians, B.J. Thomas. Thomas was the headliner (if you don't count fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to ) of the celebration. But Turrell, pastor of Apostolic Truth Ministries Worldwide, said he also wanted the opportunity to celebrate the freedom that Americans enjoy. As far as Turrell is concerned, we could stand a few more freedoms. Recent government crackdowns - from laws governing cell phone use to wire tapping - go too far, Turrell said. Having served in the Army in Vietnam, Turrell said he is sensitive to such issues. Still, the Fourth is a good day to recognize the freedoms Americans do enjoy, compared with other nations, Turrell said. "We still have a semblance of independence," he said. And thousands took the time to enjoy it at Island Park at the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. party sponsored by the Springfield Utility Board. Shortly after the gates opened at 4 p.m. people began spreading blankets on the grass near the stage to listen to warm-up band Mystery Train play classic rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. . Others beat the heat by wading into a slow-moving stretch of the Willamette River Willamette River River, northwestern Oregon, U.S. It flows north for 300 mi (485 km) into the Columbia River near Portland. Oregon's most populous cities are in its valley. The Fremont Bridge, a steel arch with a main span of 1,225 ft (373 m), crosses the river at Portland. nearby. A host of activities for children included face painting, bucket truck bucket truck n. A truck equipped with a cherry picker. rides and a display of snakes, tortoises and lizards, courtesy of the Oregon Herpetological Society. A 27-pound boa constrictor boa constrictor largest of all snakes; squeezes its victims in a deadly grip. [Zoology: NCE, 317] See : Deadliness wound around herpetological society President Steve Shallenberger's waist drew plenty of attention. Creswell resident Ray Clowers stopped and watched, intrigued, as the snake appeared to notice him, its quick-moving tongue flashing in and out as it moved toward his arm. Clowers said he'd been enjoying the holiday, particularly Creswell's parade earlier in the day. The Light of Liberty festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. in Springfield attracted him because they were family friendly, he said. And that included the reptiles reptiles terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates which breathe air through lungs and have a skin covering of horny scales. They are poikilothermic, oviparous or ovoviviparous, and, if they have legs they are short and constructed solely for crawling. . "Now if these were spiders," he said, "I'd be out of here." Organizers estimated a sellout crowd of about 6,000 people attended the event. |
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