Images from Ashland's Bicentennial

As we walked toward our car late Sunday night, with the blast of the cannon still ringing in our ears, I felt a twinge of sadness that Ashland’s celebratory bicentennial weekend had come to a close. I experienced a similar sensation as the last guests left from our son’s wedding, as we locked up the Kroc Center after its opening weekend gala in 2009, and as the curtain fell for the last time on my high school musicals. All the preparation and planning, all the anticipation and excitement, and now, in an instance, it’s over. We’ve all been there, achy feet and all, wanting to hold onto the thrill, the sense of community and connection for just one more evening, one more hour. I’m guessing there were a lot of snooze buttons punched a time or two on Monday morning.

The events of our bicentennial celebration aren’t over yet, as today features the Dream Cruise downtown, and this next week will bring an expanded Ashland Chautauqua experience, with enhancements provided by the Davis/Tipton family. We’ll get to experience two hundred years of progress through the appearances of Louis Bromfield, President Woodrow Wilson, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Dr. Mary Walker on the Band Shell stage, with Thursday night’s living history presentation giving us a glimpse of World War II through the collected memories of Ashlanders. There’s also the Yesteryear Tractor Show, a Model Railroad Display, the Speeder Car Railroad Display, and the Whitcomb and Hess Civil War Encampment, all coming soon. In fact, there are Bicentennial activities and events scheduled clear through October.

But the big shebang Fourth of July weekend, with Balloon Fest, the parade, the fireworks, and the symphony concert, is now itself part of Ashland’s history. Amidst a soggy start to the summer, for once the weather cooperated, and we had a spectacular time. So before we turn the page on last weekend, I’d like to share a few highlights that caught my attention.

What a turnout for the parade! The thousands of people who lined the streets of Ashland were treated to a great procession that truly represented the heart of our city. I was privileged to share the parade experience with the lovely Madelyn Simone, whose excitement was evident as soon as the wail of the sirens could be heard.  She loved the Pioneer National Latex marchers with their array of red, white and blue balloons and the Mansfield Shrine Club and their miniature cars. I appreciated the presence of the bagpipes as their drone filled the air, always my mother’s favorite.

When someone in the parade would shout out a greeting to me, Madelyn wanted to know if they were my best friend, and she was fascinated when one of the marchers pointed to her and said, “There’s the lovely Madelyn Simone.” “He knows my name, Nana.” Madelyn’s excitement peaked when she saw her uncles and grandfather playing with the Kroc Center’s New Adventure Band. She was especially thrilled when her Pop-Pop turned and waved to her, definitely making her day – along with all the candy being distributed.

What else? An awesome pair of patriotic stars and stripes knee socks spotted at the Symphony concert. The massive Budweiser Clydesdale team accompanied by their Dalmatian mascots. The honoring of our area’s veterans with an armed forces musical tribute, played by both the Kroc Center Big Band and the Ashland Symphony. Firehouse ice cream, historical ice cream, and homemade ice cream. The piccolo descant in “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Dr. Lucille Ford’s inimitable presence as the Grand Marshall of the parade. The iconic image of Iwo Jima. The singing of the National Anthem. The glow of balloons, fireflies, and sparklers.

Erma Bombeck wrote about our country’s celebration of independence as a day “with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees and the potato salad gets iffy. You may think you have overeaten,” she told us, “but it is patriotism.” As Independence Day and Ashland’s Bicentennial observance intertwined this past week, we were bathed in patriotism, memory, and shared history, celebrating a country described by President Lyndon Johnson as “free and restless, growing and full of hope.” Thank you, Ashland 200, for a weekend to remember!