A Yaak Fourth of July celebration
The Yaak community celebrated the Fourth of July with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. From left, are David Crisamore and Zippy Purdy, local Yaak residents; Mike Harrell; retired Army Master Sgt.; Mike Zwiebel, retired Marine Corps Corporal; Jerry Thomas, retired Army Captain, and Layle Rockwell, active duty Marine Corps. (Photo courtesy Sandy Beder-Miller)
A hayride was part of the Yaak community's Fourth of July celebration. (Photo courtesy Sandy Beder-Miller)
The Yaak community celebrated the Fourth of July with food and fellowship, including grilled hot dogs by "master chefs" Steven and Victora Kass. (Photo courtesy Sandy Beder-Miller)
The Fourth of July holiday is a day to celebrate with family and friends by attending barbecues, parades and fireworks.
But sometimes the real reason for the holiday is forgotten in the celebrations.
It is a time for us to pause and remember our independence from the tyranny of Britain’s mad King George 247 years ago and the founding documents that started America on her path to freedom.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they were committing treason when they created and signed this document “With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Eighty-four members of the Yaak community and their out-of-town guests gathered at the Yaak Community Hall on July 4 to listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence and honor our local veterans who have fought to protect our rights stated in our founding documents.
The Yaak celebration began with a small parade from the Yaak Community Church to the Yaak Community Hall.
The program included welcoming remarks, a short prayer and a letter that was read from U.S. Montana Sen. Jon Tester that stated “as we revisit our country’s founding document, you’ll be reminded of the values that define us all as Americans. Those values are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and just as they define us as Americans, they also define us as Montanans.”
The constitution was read by active and retired veterans and two Yaak young adults, including Jerry Thomas, retired Army Captain; Mike Zwiebel, retired Marine Corps Corporal; Lael Rockwell; active duty Marine Corps; Zippy Purdy and David Crismore, local Yaak residents; and Mike Harrell, retired Army Master Sergeant.
Every attendee was invited to take home a pocket constitution that included the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
The celebration continued with a very American way to celebrate July Fourth by serving grilled hotdogs, chips, cupcakes and cookies.
