.png)
“Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.”
— Robert Orben
On July 4, 1976, I was not long out of college and I was on the Naples Monitor masthead as “Photographer and Reporter.”
Daily papers in the office browsing bin carried front-page stories about the U.S. bicentennial — the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Other stories included ones about New York Harbor where a parade of 16 majestic tall ships from around the world paraded and where President Gerald Ford rang a ceremonial bell aboard the USS Forrestal and delivered a nationally televised speech honoring U.S. naval history. That included an international naval review and Blue Angels aerial demonstration.
All of this was in celebration of our nation and its Navy—both with 1776 beginnings.
Every major broadcast network — ABC, CBS and NBC — preempted programming for live coverage of the day’s events. On CBS, Walter Cronkite led 16 hours honoring the bicentennial.
At home, an early July heat wave tortured Texas with temps exceeding 100.
The Texas Independence Bicentennial Wagon Train traversed the state, stopping for huge public events. Cities large and small held communitywide parades, historical programs and fireworks displays.
In true Texas music tradition, Willie Nelson’s famous Fourth of July Picnic kicked off at the Sterling Kelley Ranch in Gonzales County. Thousands of country music fans and legendary artists joined Willie to celebrate Independence Day, including Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Leon Russell, Ray Wiley Hubbard, George Jones and more.
For the July 1 issue of The Monitor, we produced one of those fun editions that owner and publisher Morris Craig taught me to enjoy. That week’s edition carried a mock front page resembling a 1923 Naples Monitor and a 1926 Omaha Breeze.
A “Bi-Centennial Celebration” logo adorned the upper-left corner, and the early 1900s looking page proclaimed news in the old style.
These included: “Personals and locals”; “Mrs. Virene Weathersby is visiting her parents in Naples”; “For sale, one large black workhorse. See J.C. Wommack in Marietta”; “J.F. Musik and sheriff Ponder of Daingerfield were in Naples on Wednesday”; and “Groceries a specialty. See our line. H.B. Moore.”
The few front-page stories included things for which locals had no other way of learning: A report on the Odd Fellows district meeting in Mount Pleasant, how the Breeze in Omaha received a ticket to the Central East Texas Fair in Marshall, and “it was appreciated whether we attend or not.”
In addition, other items included “Rev. J.E. Evans, pastor at the First Christian Church at Sulphur Springs, conducted the opening services in the new Christian Church in Omaha.”
Turning to page 2 of that “Bi-Centennial Edition” revealed The Monitor’s “real” front page that looked like 1976 and carried an explanation for the “fun” front page as a historical feature. Also reported were plans for a holiday celebration on July 3 to mark the nation’s 200th birthday.
And now, here we are 50 years later, still celebrating the United States of America … the land of the free and the home of the brave.
The Monitor is still publishing weekly editions. But after serving as publisher of four newspapers since 1976 and a little time in-between as marketing director for a couple of businesses, you’ll likely find me at home July Fourth.
How is it that I was just minding my own business, and suddenly, it’s 50 years later?
While I try to navigate my way through the dilemma, best wishes to each of you for a happy, safe and memorable 250th Independence Day. And may God bless America for 50 years more and beyond.
