SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
This week, as the U.S. approaches its 250th birthday, we've been hearing from Americans all across the country. Bristol, Rhode Island, holds the nation's oldest Fourth of July celebration. This is their 241st year. From Ocean State Media, David Wright reports.
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Pledge allegiance to the flag...
DAVID WRIGHT, BYLINE: At town hall in Bristol, a hundred volunteers on the Fourth of July committee have been busy...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: I need men who can lift tables and move chairs.
WRIGHT: ...Sorting out last-minute details, not just on the town's parade...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: As of right now, we have 34 floats.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Oh, my God.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Woo.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: Wow.
(APPLAUSE)
WRIGHT: ...But dozens of small events too, including a golf tournament...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #5: A hundred-and-thirty dollars includes golf, cart and meal.
WRIGHT: ...A Miss Fourth of July beauty pageant and a gala ball.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #6: Everything's lined up. We're ready to go, and we're going to start working on next year's ball on Monday.
(APPLAUSE)
WRIGHT: Norman Rockwell couldn't have painted a more charming New England town. Even the double yellow line down Hope Street turns red, white and blue for the parade.
(SOUNDBITE OF PARADE MUSIC)
WRIGHT: It's a lifetime commitment for Heidi Vermilyea.
HEIDI VERMILYEA: I think I've missed the parade once, when I was in Europe for the Fourth of July, but otherwise, I have been either watching the parade or working the parade my whole life.
WRIGHT: For the past 10 years, she's been in charge of souvenirs. A blue trailer with a big window that opens up on one side.
VERMILYEA: Quite the upgrade from our last trailer.
WRIGHT: Packed with hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, even Christmas tree ornaments. She herself is stars and stripes from earrings to pedicure.
VERMILYEA: You know, when I go out in my red, white and blue outfits, people will be like, oh, you have a Fourth of July event? It's like, no, this is just my clothes. Like, I like wearing red, white and blue whenever.
WRIGHT: The way she sees it, she's flying the flag for Bristol. For her family and friends.
VERMILYEA: Politics, you can be left, right, moderate, whatever. Patriotism is just loving your community and helping out to make your town a better place, your country a better place.
WRIGHT: In other words, the pursuit of happiness together, never mind politics. For NPR News, I'm David Wright in Bristol, Rhode Island.
(SOUNDBITE OF RIKARD FROM'S "LET ME TAKE YOU FOR A WALK") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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