Blessed to Bless! by Steve Klusmeyer

      Celebrate Freedom
      by Steve Klusmeyer - 7/8/2003

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      animated image of American Flag and Fireworks

      227 and Counting

      Last week, we celebrated the 227th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence. Do you remember the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration? It wasn't that far back was it? It only seems like . . . well, 27 years ago. But, come to think about it, I have lived longer since than I had before. (By one year. You can do the math!)

      1976 was a yearlong celebration in the United States. There were lots of parades, fireworks, and special events. Oklahoma City's parade even featured large character balloons like those usually only seen in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Most towns painted their fire hydrants with red-white-&-blue designs. I worked for a pop company back then and several of our trucks were painted with patriotic schemes - like the whole side of one truck became an American flag.

      image of American Freedom Train Poster Click to learn more about the AFT

      American Freedom Train

      I remember touring the Freedom Train during its stop in Oklahoma City. Brenda and I were two of more than seven million Americans who visited the train during its tour of all 48 contiguous states from April 1, 1975 to December 31, 1976. Tens of millions more stood trackside as the train passed by their communities. The American Freedom Train was a 26-car train led by one of three enormous steam engines restored just for the occasion. The train featured twelve display cars filled with over 500 precious treasures of Americana. Included in the wide-range of memorabilia were George Washington's copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase, Judy Garland's dress from The Wizard of OZ, Joe Frazier's boxing trunks, Martin Luther King's pulpit and robes, and even a moon rock. Visitors could go aboard and pass through ten of the cars. The other two held larger objects that could be viewed from the ground through huge picture windows.

      Celebrating freedom has been an American tradition since July 8, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud in Philadelphia, followed by city bells ringing and bands playing. As an American, I am glad that I am able to celebrate freedom. I am thankful for our forefathers who made it possible and for those today who are willing to lay their life on the line for our freedom. I am even more thankful that I am able to celebrate freedom in a world where freedom seems to be threatened by the conflict and turmoil around us. The freedom that I celebrate allows me to rise above the circumstances and remain calm despite the raging storms of life. It is a sense of assurance that no matter what happens, everything will be alright, and that somewhere, someone trustworthy is in control. Learn more

      Looking Back

      Here's a look back at a few of the important or not so important events of 1976:

      News in 1976
      • Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the U.S. presidential election.
      • The first outbreak of Legionnaire's disease killed 29 at the American Legion convention in Philadelphia.
      • Patty Hearst was found guilty of armed robbery of a San Francisco bank.
      • Supreme Court allowed the removal of Karen Quinlan's life support systems.
      • Supreme Court ruled capital punishment was constitutional.
      • Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung died.
      • Vietnam was unified, Hanoi named capital, Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
      • U.S. and Iran signed 10 billion dollar arms sale.


      Sports in 1976
      • The Oklahoma Sooners beat Michigan in the Orange Bowl to claim the national title 14-6. In 2003, the Oklahoma Sooners didn't claim the national title, but did beat Washington State in the Rose Bowl 34-14.
      • The Pittsburg Steelers headed to Miami where they became the Super Bowl champions by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. In 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose first season was in 1976, were the Super Bowl Champs. By the way, they took Lee Roy Selmon of the Oklahoma Sooners with the first selection in the NFL college draft that first year.
      • Boston claimed the NBA Championship after defeating Phoenix 4-2.
      • Cincinnati won the World Series by defeating the NY Yankees 4-0.
      • Chris Evert and Bjorn Borg were Wimbledon champions.
      • Did I mention that I'm a Sooner fan?


      Entertainment in 1976
      • Filming began on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film.
      • Rocky won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
      • Top songs included:
        • I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow
        • Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tennille
        • 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
        • Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee
        • Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain by Willie Nelson
      • Top TV shows included:
        • MASH
        • Happy Days
        • The Waltons
        • Little House on the Prarie
        • Starsky and Hutch
      • The Blues Brothers debuted on NBC's Saturday Night Live.
      • The Sonny and Cher Show premiered.
      • Farrah Fawcett-Majors posters (and hair style) became a fad.


      Technology in 1976
      • The Concorde made its first commercial flights.
      • The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, rolled out. It was a test vehicle only, never intended for space flight.
      • Viking 1 probes landed on Mars and beamed back photographs. We're still trying to find answers on Mars. Two American probes, Spirit and Opportunity are currently on their way to the Red Planet. They are scheduled to arrive around the first of the year, about the same time as two other spaceships, one Japanese and one European.
      • The Apple Corporation was founded. The Apple II was produced, complete with its own keyboard and monitor and was an immediate success, priced at $1298.
      • A little known company Microsoft was officialy registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico.


      Other Trivia from 1976
      • The phrase Junk food entered the English language.
      • Lasers were used in a rock show for the first time (by the Who).
      • The cost of a First-Class stamp was 13¢ - but you had to lick it.
      • A call from a pay phone was 10¢ - no cell phones, yet.
      • Gas was 35¢/gallon - some places even pumped it for you and washed your windshield.
      • And don't forget lava lamps, stingray bicycles, custom vans, 8-track tape players, CB radios ("10-4, Good Buddy"), leisure suits, platform shoes, powder blue tuxedos, polyester, waterbeds, afros, and "Keep on Truckin'".


      Learn more about the history of Independence Day
      Learn more about the American Freedom Train
      Learn more about 1976



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