July is just around the corner, and it marches in with great festivities and fanfare. It’s not only a celebration of independence but also of American identity and values — freedom, democracy, and unity. Let’s raise a flag to that. Where will the holiday find you?
There are so many ways that Americans celebrate our nation’s liberty. The first formal Independence Day celebrations took place in 1777 in Philadelphia and Bristol, Rhode Island, featuring fireworks, gun salutes, and processions — a tradition that continues today. Whether it’s a casual barbeque, a local parade, or a giant party, fireworks and sparklers are on the celebration menu.
Each summer in Southampton, patriots parade to one of the season’s most beloved traditions, the Southampton Fresh Air Home’s Annual American Picnic, with Grucci Fireworks. Now in its 38th year, the festive evening returns on Saturday, June 28th, bringing together the community in celebration and support of SFAH.
Hosted once again by Honorary Chairmen Margie and Michael Loeb at their stunning oceanfront estate, this year’s event promises an unforgettable night under the stars. Chairmen Mimi and Andy Crawford, Susan and Chris Golden, Liza and Shaw Joseph, Kathryn McEntee, James Marzigliano, Christl and Kenny Meszkat, Lauren and Geoff Smart, Bronwen G.P. Smith, Stephanie and Paul Stamas, Sophie Elgort and Eric Von Stroh, and Ashley and Victor Wu guarantee a good time.
In their 124th year, Southampton Fresh Air Home offers year-round recreational and educational programs for children and young adults with physical disabilities. Located on four beautiful acres in the heart of Southampton, they are an integral part of the community.
Children and young adults of SFAH.
For what to wear on this most auspicious day, only Ralph Lauren will do for dressing in the colors of our flag. His style has shaped and defined the American fashion spirit for over 50 years. From rugged cowboy to urban sophisticate, his aesthetic epitomizes the can-do, aspirational nature of this country. This collection is made for packing and mix and matching to enjoy the greatest summer pleasures.
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Tops: Polo Navy Pointelle Shirt $348 / Linen White Vest $268 Bottoms: Curved Tapered Jeans $198 / Red Georgette Midi Skirt $175 dresses: Satin Navy Slip Dress $398 / Tiered White Cotton Eyelet Maxi Dress $698 / Flutter-Sleeve Denim Shirtdress SALE $150 / Striped Henley Midi Dress $145 / Floral Red Georgette Gown $295 / Knit Stripe Sweater Dress $295 / Belted White Voile Dress $225 Shoes: Ballet Espadrille $135 / Jute Espadrille Platforms $155 Accessories: Navy and White Scarf SALE $50 / Striped Tote Bag $275 / Red Cashmere Pashmina Scarf $995
Very Ralph, it is a wonderful look back at the iconic designer’s history and inspiration. I had the pleasure of watching on a plane recently.
KK will be heading up north to the Millbrook countryside for a weekend of polo & fieldside tailgating, and an old-fashioned celebration at the Mashomack Preserve Club. Revelers flock to the shores of Halcyon Lake to see the fantastic fireworks display, accompanied by the rousing tunes of John Philip Sousa, and dancing to the tunes of DJ Flo.
Helen and Everett Cook, with Parker Gentry.
Hilary will be in Newport, Rhode Island, a town that pulls out all the stops for the Fourth of July. Festivities kick off at the harborfront on July 1st with a dazzling fireworks preview over the water, leading up to the main event on the 4th, when the sky bursts to life over the sea, in classic coastal fashion.
Whether you’re sailing into the show aboard or settling in with friends at Bowen’s Wharf, it’s all about easy elegance and ocean breezes. Add a glass of rosé and a harbor view, and you’re set for one of the most picturesque spots on the Eastern Seaboard.
Hilary knows the town well. “Spending the 4th of July in Newport is a family tradition. We all gather in the city by the sea for the classic barbecue, beach and sparklers. Weather permitting, we go on our friends’ boat in the harbor and have the perfect view of the fireworks lighting up the sky in honor of America.”
Ahoy Matey!
Dresses: Joan Red Midi Dress $695 / Kairi Floral Blue Dress $496 / Self-Portrait Floral Midi Dress $750 / Noelle Blue Dress $295 Tops: Jil Sander striped T-Shirt $430 Bottoms: Nolan Denim Shorts $200 Swimwear: Chloe White Swimsuit $890 Shoes: Gianvito Rossi Red Sandals $895 / Amina Muaddi White Mules $725 Accessories: Celine Sunglasses $510 / Carolina Herrera Red Earrings $290
And for those who are staying in town for the holiday, there is perhaps no spectacle more synonymous with summer in the city than the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show. Now in its 48th year, this beloved tradition transforms the skyline into a stage, where bursts of red, white, and blue light up the night in perfect choreography above the East River. When it comes to Fourth of July festivities, It’s New York’s grandest love letter to independence—loud, luminous, and unforgettable.
Andrea Walton posted this on her Facebook page several years ago. I have made it a point to read it each year to experience renewed gratitude and awe for the courage and fortitude of these incredible men and their families.
What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?
This is the price they paid.
Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and prperties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Bandals or soldiers or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as the was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: “For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
God Bless America.
Photos & images courtesy of Southampton Fresh Air Home, Macy’s, HBO, Very Ralph.
Hilary Dick and Karen Klopp of What2WearWhere.com. We take the guesswork out of dressing, the legwork out of shopping, and the panic out of packing.©
