Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 4, 1993 TAG: 9307040129
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LEIGH ALLEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It felt just like the Fourth of July.
It was, of course, only the third.
"In all the years I've been coming, this is the only time I've come on the third," said John McAllister, who celebrated his 65th birthday at the Music for Americans concert in Victory Stadium on Saturday. "This would just give me a bigger excuse to skip church tomorrow. Besides, what's a better birthday party than this?"
People mentioned all kinds of reasons to celebrate Saturday. America's independence was well down on the list.
"They came to hear the Youth Symphony," Janice King said, pointing to her twin 12-year-old sons, Brandon and Mathew. "They play the French horn."
Which one is better?
"Brandon's the musician, Mathew's the athlete," she said diplomatically.
King said she and her family have come to the event nearly every year since it began about 15 years ago. She said the concert gives her a sense of community spirit.
"Just look at everybody talking and having a good time. This is one of the biggest social events the city has every year," she said.
The fact that the concert was on July 3 this year simply gave some in the crowd one more reason to enjoy it.
"We get to have the Fourth again tomorrow," said one man, lounging in a lawn chair while the Roanoke Youth Symphony tuned up in front of him. He said he planned to pass the afternoon drinking ice-cold Coca-Cola from the 6 1/2 ounce green bottles "the way God intended" before watching the fireworks display later.
"I've never seen one of these fancy fireworks displays, unless you count the Army," he said. "And I wasn't sitting in a lawn chair, then."
For others, tradition was a big part of the show.
Martha and John Kreider said they come to visit with a group of friends that gathers in the same spot each year, rain or shine.
"We were even here when we had plastic and umbrellas over our heads," Martha Kreider said, keeping a sharp eye out for any thunderstorms that might be building up. But by late afternoon, the folks covering the field with patriotic colors were in no danger of getting wet.
Kreider was proud to display her latest Fourth of July fashion: Homemade red, white and blue earrings. "I made them this morning to go with my outfit," she said.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***