I Believe in Seward's Fourth of July Celebration by Clark Kolterman

Forward:

It is really a statement on how wonderful our lives are in Seward, when we must struggle to select which topic to use for our belief essay. The citizens of Seward have been blessed with so much and afforded so many opportunities; it is hard to decide which topic to pen into an essay. For some, like me, the answer is to write more than one essay, for others, it is an excuse not to write one at all and for even others it is an avenue to promote something they feel very strongly about and want to share it. Writing for publication, whether in print or on the web, seems so permanent. Your writing is very personal, yet when shared publicly, it is securitized, criticized and even sometimes denounced. I feel very compelled to write this essay, as someone needs to share these thoughts, especially on this website for This I Believe Seward.

I believe in Seward's Fourth of July Celebration!

Having been involved with our wonderful community celebration for 40 of the last 140 years of the celebration's existence, I realize how important it is to promote our community's Fourth of July every opportunity that is presented. This wonderful website offers such an opportunity and I feel obligated to write about our nationally recognized, hometown effort, and present it to the world wide web audience.

Seward is Nebraska's Official Fourth of July City, first proclaimed by the late Governor James Exon in 1971 and through the efforts of former Congressman Charles Thone and Senator Zorinsky. In fact, in 1974, the US Congress declared Seward America's Fourth of July City-Small Town USA! We often refer to that official, national title, (yet we don't always include the Small Town USA part of the title). For 140 years, Seward has hosted a community Fourth of July Celebration. For our community I feel this celebration reflects our history, it celebrates our community and state and it gives our community an identify that we recognize year round.

First of all, indeed, the Seward Fourth of July Celebration is historic. I guess, anything that is 140 years old is historic. I feel this celebration is really living history. It was 140 years ago, on the same courthouse square that we still use today, the new founders of Seward dug a well, raised a United States flag that was sewn for the occasion on a pole in dirt from the well and presented Seward their first Fourth of July. The year was 1868; one year after Seward was officially founded. The celebration was important then to the new citizens of Seward and it is still important to the community today. At the turn of the century, it was reported that train cars of people traveled to Seward to celebrate and today thousands join in many of the same activities that have been celebration for many decades.

Also, the Fourth of July community celebration has really put Seward, Nebraska on the map. I feel we are a red, white and blue community year round-as Nebraska's official Fourth of July City. It is a very positive, wonderful identity and one we point to with pride every day of the year! Our small community benefits from the economic impact of the Fourth. About ten years ago, the State Tourism Department helped us realize the impact of the Fourth with our local banks reflecting the deposits daily for two weeks prior to the Fourth and two weeks after the Fourth. There was a major jump in revenue that week-end! For some businesses, it is one of the most important days of the year!

But even more than the economic impact for our community, it is the social impact, as family and friends gather every year and celebrate our nation's ideals and heritage. It is indeed a family day and a day to create family memories. Many of the events are free and traditions have been created because of the Fourth. Maybe it is the only day in the year you purchase a funnel cake or watch the cloggers or even listen to a lecture on quilts, but it is a celebration where there is something for everyone and all ages can participate and enjoy their own special activity. Hundreds of community individuals volunteer to make the many events happen and a very loyal Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee devotes hundreds of hours to make the community celebration a reality.

Wilber is the Czech Capital , Ogallala is the Cowboy Capital, Syracuse is the German Capital and Lincoln is the Capital City (to name a few!) and now even Seward can proudly claim to the fame that Seward is Nebraska s Official Fourth of July City-Small Town USA! We invite you to Spend the Fourth in Seward! You too can then see why I believe in Seward's Fourth of July Celebration!