As we head into the 4th of July celebration, here is a column from Rancho Cordova’s Vice Mayor that captures what it is all about.
Enjoy and remember…
Guest commentary:
Rancho to celebrate old-fashioned Fourth
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 2, 2006
When George M. Cohan penned the lyrics to "You're a Grand Old Flag," he could not have been thinking about this year's bash in Rancho Cordova. But, as corny as it sounds, every heart does "beat true under red, white and blue" when our town throws its annual star-spangled blowout.
For Rancho Cordova, celebrating the Fourth of July has come to mean more than barbecuing hot dogs and taking Old Glory out for a spin. It may have something to do with where we've been -- and where we're going.
For nearly 75 years, Rancho Cordova was home to Mather Air Force Base. As sky navigators came from around the free world to learn the latest techniques, they helped color us as a global place dedicated to protecting freedom across the continents.
Many of those airmen, having traveled the world for Uncle Sam, decided Rancho Cordova was the best place they ever lived, and returned. Our veteran population is large.
In recent decades, we have become the Ellis Island of Sacramento County, as immigrants from Asia, Russia and now Mexico found homes they could afford as they started new lives. We are educating their children and helping them become productive American citizens in Rancho Cordova.
So it all comes together for us in Rancho Cordova over the Fourth of July, that day we set aside to celebrate being Americans. We line our streets with flags and over the past 22 years have nurtured the most family friendly All-American celebration in the region.
This year will be no different. "It's a Grand Old Flag" is three-day free celebration starting today. We've booked national acts such as Heatwave and Kansas. First Covenant Church will bring a Broadway-style performance of unparalleled quality to our stage called "The American Explosion." And just when you think you've heard it all, the sky will truly explode with fireworks -- the largest free spectacular in Sacramento.
On Sunday, join us for "Picnic Day," where we challenge you to try every single one of our "101 things to do" in Hagan Park. Try our pedal boats in the ponds, talk with the animals in our petting barn and zoo, ride the rails with Sacramento Valley Live Steamer's scale train yard. When was the last time you played Candyland with the kids, dominoes with your neighbors or painted your toenails red, white and blue? Hear the band Heatwave.
On Monday, if you do nothing else, plan to have your blanket ready in the front row for the music of those 1970s rockers Kansas. They play at 8 p.m., and we shoot off our July 3 fireworks to end the show.
Tuesday will dawn with our annual parade at 10 a.m. along Coloma Road. Plan for a full day of fun, "The American Explosion" and more fireworks. The details on all this can be accessed at http://www.ranchocordovajuly4th.com/. Or call our information line at (916) 851-8818.
Plan to spend some time this coming holiday with your friends in Rancho Cordova. We've knocked ourselves out to show you that Rancho Cordova is the best place to be on the Fourth of July and every other day as well.
About the writer:
David M. Sander is vice mayor of Rancho Cordova and a member of the City Council.
