The Thomas Family Front Porch by Stephen Thomas

Well, it’s that time of year where we move all the front porch furniture out to the yard underneath the shade tree. Mom and Grandma have fried chicken, corn on the cob and apple pie on the picnic table with the red and white checkered tablecloth. Dad and Uncle Ed are playing corn hole in the side yard, the kids are in the plastic makeshift swimming pools in the back, and Uncle Coy is determined to blow us all up with the grill. It must be the 4th of July.


The Independence Day holiday brings back a flood of memories from both my youth and from recent years. Most recent times include fireworks in Shepherdsville courtesy of the annual Bullitt Blast.

The 4th usually means a day off work for all Americans (except maybe cynical journalists who take pictures of local fireworks). But when it really boils down to the root of this famous American holiday, what does it truly mean? What makes it so special?

Help us out, Bullitt County: We want to know at the Thomas Family front porch what freedom means. What does it mean to you and your families? What does it mean to Bullitt County, or Kentucky, or the entire country? What is most important about freedom itself, or life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

Maybe it’s having your family gathered around the picnic table on a sunny day. Maybe it’s shooting off illegal fireworks. Maybe it’s watching a car race on television. Maybe it is the right to live, more or less, the way you choose. Remember, it’s your thoughts, and you have the freedom to share them, or even not to share.

Also, feel free to tell us your memories of past Independence Days, maybe your earliest recollections of the holiday, or maybe when you first understood its true importance.

Please always remember, no profanity, keep it clean, don’t say anything out of line, or Grandma will shoot her homemade bottle rockets up your nose.

So, while Uncle Coy lines up the roman candles next to the neighbors’ illegally parked car and the kids run at me with a bucket full of water, think about your freedom and your holiday and share your thoughts and memories. Feel free…literally!