Posted by southern_bell (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish I could but I have to work. I missed it last year because of work, so I guess this will be my tradition every year WORK!!! LOL I work close to the river so maybe the boss will let us step outside and see them.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We'll do both!

Posted by Username (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed
the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the
British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their
homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the
Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 5
fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine
were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.
But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well
that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton
of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from
the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay
his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the
British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He
served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.
His possessions were taken from him,and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. At the battle of
Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis
had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged
General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and
Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties
destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few
months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was
dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his
gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in
forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a
broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble- rousing ruffians. They were
soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they
valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they
pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on
the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each
other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you
and me a free and independent America. The history books never told
you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't
fight just the British.
We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own
government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but
we shouldn't. So,take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July
holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for
the price they paid

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Happy 4th , I'm proud to be an American, a Mississippian and a Natchezian as well!!

Posted by lovemykids (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE. WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME FIREWORKS BUT I HAVE A SICK CHILD TONIGHT. MAYBE WE'LL GET TO DO SOME TOMORROW.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 4, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope your baby gets better! And let's pray we have no headlines this year like last year to wake up to. Everyone stay safe!

Posted by sterlinged (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I enjoyed the largest land based fire works display in the USA this evening in Houston called Chevy's "Freedom Over Texas"...... It was absolutely incredible....http://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/cfot/sponsorships.html
Hope everyone in Natchez enjoyed the fireworks there from the bluff!
Happy 4th Everyone!

Posted by loneconservative (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have already seen the show on the river. Call me crazy, but I seriously think that the show was shorter this year.

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Username, thank you for your thoughts on this favorite day of America. More of this should be taught in school for our children to know and understand exactly why we celebrate the 4th of July. It took the torture and death of others to get us where we are today. Thank you so much. May God bless America, and may it forever remain the greatest nation of freedom on earth.