Fourth of July celebration

Here's one Fourth that we remember well, the Fourth of July at the Indian Reservation in Payson, Arizona, in the mountains a few hours north of Phoenix. Apache land, they’re still around in this roughed, desert hill country.

My wife’s folks lived in that little town, she and I were visiting. Her dad and his family were from nearby Globe. That evening we all went to town for the festivities.

The main event was fireworks, at the rodeo stadium. Payson’s rodeo, called the oldest of them all, has been held every year since 1884. We showed up a hundred years later, just for the fireworks.

After walking around, eating snow cones and hot dogs, the evening was dark enough, a perfect temperature, everyone found seats in the rodeo stadium for the fireworks.
An announcer in the bleachers at the far end welcomed everyone and introduced a few people, like the mayor and town dignitaries.

Then a young girl about twelve and her horse were introduced. She rode out onto the field carrying a large American flag on a staff, had blonde curly hair, leather vest with leather tassels and flecks of glitter. Both she and her horse were cleaned up, polished and decked out in old western finery.

The crowd stood as an excellent orchestral recording of the national anthem began. A live chorus and the crowd sang along, while the girl started walking her spirited, well saddled, flowing golden mane, chestnut brown horse along the length of the stadium.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,


From a walk the horse changed to an elegant high stepping cantor.

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming

She broke her horse first into a light run and then full gallop, head down, riding hard, kicking up dust as they leaned low in the turns and circled the stadium.

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

At this point she brought the horse to a skidding, dust raising halt by the flag pole, and then reared it up on it’s hind legs.

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

She brought the horse down and dipped it into a bow. The ovation was loud as thunder. When the cheers ended, she brought the horse up, reared it up on it’s hind legs once more, and then rode off the field at full gallop. You’re right, it was moving.