Fourth of July celebrations more meaningful, worrisome for some

Washington — Hours before the Fourth of July parade began, a family that had journeyed 14 hours from Wisconsin filed down to Constitution Avenue to get the best seats.

Melinda Lehmitz and her husband, Harvey, wanted their twin children to experience the array of people and cultures in the District of Columbia — something they aren’t able to see at home.

“It’s sheltered in the country,” Lehmitz said of Hilbert, Wis., as her 13-year-olds, Skylar and Dylan, took turns fanning each other. “They don’t really get to see how people interact outside their bubble.”

Lehmitz said the celebration was more meaningful than their usual Fourth of July barbecue in Wisconsin.

“I never, ever imagined I’d be here,” said Lehmitz, who had three American flags tucked in her hair. “But I want to broaden their horizons and show my kids things they aren’t taught in school.”

As the parade stepped off, Lehmitz and her family were welcomed by just the sort of diversity they sought, with a banner on the Sikh float that read “equality and justice for all.”

Many floats represented cultural groups and organizations. On one, several dozen Sikhs wore American-flag ties and red, white and blue turbans.

The Greater Washington Chinese American Community’s float was the shape of a ship, while a band behind the group played drums in a synchronous rhythm.

Thousands of citizens and non- citizens alike descended on the Washington region Wednesday to celebrate and in some cases protest all that the United States has to offer. It was a day to embrace the hard-fought independence the nation declared 242 years ago.

A plethora of floats, balloons and marching bands made their way down Constitution Avenue during the morning parade. Many played songs such as “Born in the U.S. A.,” while others danced and waved to the crowds.

Two large balloons, featuring an American flag and an even more massive eagle, drew cheers and applause from onlookers. These were followed by a float containing a model version of the Statue of Liberty’s torch.

A large cloud blocked the sun temporarily, causing onlookers to shout, “Oh, yes!” in anticipation of shade.

One spectator squealed with joy while stretching her arms toward the sky.

Muggy was the theme of the day. In other words, a typical July Fourth in the District.

Across from the Washington Monument, John and Erica Mullen, both 34, sat on the curb with their five children, all in red, white and blue T-shirts bearing phrases such as “Land of the Free.”

“We have a lot of pride in our country, and even with all of its flaws, we feel strongly about instilling that in our kids,” said Erica, who had an American flag wrapped around her waist. “The least we can do is wear our colors.”

Originally from The Woodlands, Texas, their family started a 12-month trip around the country in June, with Erica home-schooling their children in U.S. history. She said they wanted to be in Washington on Independence Day.

This week, the children — three of whom were adopted from Mexico and Houston — visited the Lincoln Memorial to learn about the Emancipation Proclamation.

“Seeing everything from that time, it wouldn’t have been a thought to have a family like ours, even a hundred years ago,” Erica said.

John, a Web developer and a “Christ follower,” said he also wanted to celebrate — and show gratitude for — religious freedom in the United States.

“It’s really great to be able to go to a church on Sundays and not be hated for religion or arrested for that,” he said. “I just couldn’t imagine traveling around and not being able to talk with people about God.”

Richard Principe and his family laid out a blanket beneath a tree near the base of the Washington Monument on Wednesday morning.

It was their first Fourth of July together in the United States, said Principe, 50.

His wife and their two children joined him in Lorton, Va., three weeks ago, when they moved there from Peru, where Principe and his wife were born.

“We appreciate this country,” Principe said, adding that he and his family intend to spend the rest of their lives here.

The two children are U. S. citizens, and Principe’s wife is going through the application process.

“Like everybody else, we want to settle down and get the American Dream,” he said. “It’s still possible. ... I think everyone can make it.”

To explain the holiday to his children, Principe compared the Fourth of July to Fiestas Patrias, a late- July holiday that marks Peru’s independence from Spain.

“This country is based on freedom,” Principe told his daughters.

Principe, an engineer, said he doesn’t support every White House policy, but he does support President Donald Trump’s agenda in general. In a time of great political divisiveness, Principe said, the country needs to come together and celebrate anyway.

“It’s a holiday,” he said with some exasperation.

But he did say that Americans need to “wake up” and realize the country isn’t being treated fairly on the world stage.

“It’s time to stop other countries taking advantage of us,” he said.

As onlookers crowded Constitution Avenue for the parade, 69-year-old Linda Roberts was putting on a show of her own.

The District native spun, leaped and danced on a nearby sidewalk, emphatically twirl- ing two American flags as part of a routine she’s continued for six years running.

“I love bands, I love parades, and I love American flags — so I combine it all to celebrate,” Roberts said while waving to onlookers.

Roberts, a transgender woman, said being in the District gives her the opportunity to be who she is without fear of discrimination.