I am trying to psyche myself up to head to Mount Vernon in three hours for the ceremonies and fireworks over the Potomac.

I already bought a $52 ticket but the heat and the crowds and parking are going to suck.

tomorrow looks awesome:

National Mall July 4 flyover schedule

• 1:14 PM - NASA F-5 Flyover
• 1:24 PM - NASA Fleet Review
• 1:44 PM - USCG Helo Flyover
• 1:54 PM - USCG Fixed Wing Flyover
• 2:09 PM - Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
• 2:29 PM - Army Helo Flyover
• 2:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Heavies
• 2:54 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 2 - AFSOC
• 3:04 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 3:29 PM - Executive Rotary Wing Airlift
• 3:39 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 3:49 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 3:59 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 4:09 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 4:19 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 4:21 PM - USN F-18F Demonstration
• 4:59 PM - USN Blue Angels
• 5:26 PM - USMC MV-22 Osprey Demonstration
• 5:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review Fighters
• 6:02 PM - USAF Tri-Bomber Formation
• 6:05 PM - USN F-35C Demonstration
• 6:25 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration
• 7:03 PM - Air Force One Flyover
• 7:07 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Delta Break
• 7:17 PM - HUGE 1 Flyover Led by the Newly Renovated Air Force One
• 7:38 PM - U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover
• 7:39 PM - F-22 Raptor Demo
• 7:53 PM - F-22 Raptor in Afterburner
• 7:59 PM - B-1 Flyover
• 8:07 PM - B-1's in Afterburner
• 8:11 PM - HUGE ONE Fly Over Review
• 8:22 PM - Golden Knights Twilight Jump
• 10:36 PM - B-1 Afterburner Night Pass

Desert Ag said:

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Bessant was born in 1927 and enlisted in Jan 1942 at the age of 15. Fought in Africa, wounded in Italy and was in Normandy before D-Day where he watched the invasion. Told us the only time he was really afraid was during the liberation of Buchenwald where he came face-to-face with the notorious Ilse Koch, wife of the German Commandant and known as the "B*tch of Buchenwald".

Truly the greatest generation!

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Interesting. Do you have any details on this?

Thanks for sharing.

President James Garfield in DC!

Civil War Veteran

LMCane said:

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President James Garfield in DC!

Civil War Veteran

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Why no statue for Odie?

LMCane said:

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I am trying to psyche myself up to head to Mount Vernon in three hours for the ceremonies and fireworks over the Potomac.

I already bought a $52 ticket but the heat and the crowds and parking are going to suck.

tomorrow looks awesome:

National Mall July 4 flyover schedule

• 1:14 PM - NASA F-5 Flyover
• 1:24 PM - NASA Fleet Review
• 1:44 PM - USCG Helo Flyover
• 1:54 PM - USCG Fixed Wing Flyover
• 2:09 PM - Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
• 2:29 PM - Army Helo Flyover
• 2:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Heavies
• 2:54 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 2 - AFSOC
• 3:04 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 3:29 PM - Executive Rotary Wing Airlift
• 3:39 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 3:49 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 3:59 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 4:09 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 4:19 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 4:21 PM - USN F-18F Demonstration
• 4:59 PM - USN Blue Angels
• 5:26 PM - USMC MV-22 Osprey Demonstration
• 5:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review Fighters
• 6:02 PM - USAF Tri-Bomber Formation
• 6:05 PM - USN F-35C Demonstration
• 6:25 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration
• 7:03 PM - Air Force One Flyover
• 7:07 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Delta Break
• 7:17 PM - HUGE 1 Flyover Led by the Newly Renovated Air Force One
• 7:38 PM - U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover
• 7:39 PM - F-22 Raptor Demo
• 7:53 PM - F-22 Raptor in Afterburner
• 7:59 PM - B-1 Flyover
• 8:07 PM - B-1's in Afterburner
• 8:11 PM - HUGE ONE Fly Over Review
• 8:22 PM - Golden Knights Twilight Jump
• 10:36 PM - B-1 Afterburner Night Pass

---

That's awesome. I would sit and watch the full 9 hours of that.

Will this be broadcast anywhere? CSPAN, PBS, OAN?

milner79 said:

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Desert Ag said:

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Bessant was born in 1927 and enlisted in Jan 1942 at the age of 15. Fought in Africa, wounded in Italy and was in Normandy before D-Day where he watched the invasion. Told us the only time he was really afraid was during the liberation of Buchenwald where he came face-to-face with the notorious Ilse Koch, wife of the German Commandant and known as the "B*tch of Buchenwald".

Truly the greatest generation!

---

Interesting. Do you have any details on this?

Thanks for sharing.

---

His family has the records, but the info above was personally recounted by "Mr. Bessant" to my wife Jill (and his family of course). To give a few more details, according to Bessant, he was wounded in the battle of Cisterna Italy and was transported to a hospital ship where he was recruited by William "Wild Bill" Donovan (founder of the OSS) and for the rest of the war operated under the Donovan's auspices during the European campaign. Thus why he was in Normandy prior to the invasion.

GCRanger said:

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Will this be broadcast anywhere? CSPAN, PBS, OAN?

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Here's the deal based on the changes for USA 250

1. the normal "Capitol 4th" concert held on July 4 on the West Lawn of the Capitol is now taking place TONIGHT

2. it will be broadcast as always on your local PBS station wherever you are.

3. the fireworks which usually go off during the Tschaikovsky 1812 Overture Finale are now moved to Mount Vernon

4. due to the Trump Fireworks which will take place at 2230 tomorrow night at the Washington Monument.

I have tickets to the Mount Vernon events where the French Foreign Legion Band will pay at 1900 and then something called the "national concert band" will play at 2000 with Fireworks at 2115

the fireworks at Mount Vernon (ticketed spectators only) will be simulcast or previously recorded and broadcast back on Capitol Hill

LMCane said:

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I am trying to psyche myself up to head to Mount Vernon in three hours for the ceremonies and fireworks over the Potomac.

I already bought a $52 ticket but the heat and the crowds and parking are going to suck.

tomorrow looks awesome:

National Mall July 4 flyover schedule

• 1:14 PM - NASA F-5 Flyover
• 1:24 PM - NASA Fleet Review
• 1:44 PM - USCG Helo Flyover
• 1:54 PM - USCG Fixed Wing Flyover
• 2:09 PM - Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
• 2:29 PM - Army Helo Flyover
• 2:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Heavies
• 2:54 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 2 - AFSOC
• 3:04 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 3:29 PM - Executive Rotary Wing Airlift
• 3:39 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 3:49 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 3:59 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 4:09 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 4:19 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 4:21 PM - USN F-18F Demonstration
• 4:59 PM - USN Blue Angels
• 5:26 PM - USMC MV-22 Osprey Demonstration
• 5:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review Fighters
• 6:02 PM - USAF Tri-Bomber Formation
• 6:05 PM - USN F-35C Demonstration
• 6:25 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration
• 7:03 PM - Air Force One Flyover
• 7:07 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Delta Break
• 7:17 PM - HUGE 1 Flyover Led by the Newly Renovated Air Force One
• 7:38 PM - U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover
• 7:39 PM - F-22 Raptor Demo
• 7:53 PM - F-22 Raptor in Afterburner
• 7:59 PM - B-1 Flyover
• 8:07 PM - B-1's in Afterburner
• 8:11 PM - HUGE ONE Fly Over Review
• 8:22 PM - Golden Knights Twilight Jump
• 10:36 PM - B-1 Afterburner Night Pass

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Good luck, was there on Wednesday. Frick'n hot!

MyNameIsJeff said:

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LMCane said:

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I am trying to psyche myself up to head to Mount Vernon in three hours for the ceremonies and fireworks over the Potomac.

I already bought a $52 ticket but the heat and the crowds and parking are going to suck.

tomorrow looks awesome:

National Mall July 4 flyover schedule

• 1:14 PM - NASA F-5 Flyover
• 1:24 PM - NASA Fleet Review
• 1:44 PM - USCG Helo Flyover
• 1:54 PM - USCG Fixed Wing Flyover
• 2:09 PM - Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
• 2:29 PM - Army Helo Flyover
• 2:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Heavies
• 2:54 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 2 - AFSOC
• 3:04 PM - USAF Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 3:29 PM - Executive Rotary Wing Airlift
• 3:39 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 3:49 PM - USMC Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 3:59 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 1 - Rotary
• 4:09 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 2 - Fixed Wing
• 4:19 PM - USN Fleet Review - Wave 3 - Fighters
• 4:21 PM - USN F-18F Demonstration
• 4:59 PM - USN Blue Angels
• 5:26 PM - USMC MV-22 Osprey Demonstration
• 5:44 PM - USAF Fleet Review Fighters
• 6:02 PM - USAF Tri-Bomber Formation
• 6:05 PM - USN F-35C Demonstration
• 6:25 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration
• 7:03 PM - Air Force One Flyover
• 7:07 PM - USAF Thunderbirds Delta Break
• 7:17 PM - HUGE 1 Flyover Led by the Newly Renovated Air Force One
• 7:38 PM - U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover
• 7:39 PM - F-22 Raptor Demo
• 7:53 PM - F-22 Raptor in Afterburner
• 7:59 PM - B-1 Flyover
• 8:07 PM - B-1's in Afterburner
• 8:11 PM - HUGE ONE Fly Over Review
• 8:22 PM - Golden Knights Twilight Jump
• 10:36 PM - B-1 Afterburner Night Pass

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That's awesome. I would sit and watch the full 9 hours of that.

---

you need to apply for tickets to gain entrance into the National Mall and sit through nine hours of +100 degree heat.

good luck my brother!

I booked the Yotel on New Jersey Avenue about six months ago

so my plan is to catch the parade, then walk back to the hotel for many hours to relax in air conditioning, then walk back down to the Capitol Building portico around 2100 tomorrow for Trump's Rally and the final massive fireworks above the Lincoln Memorial.

I am hoping the flyovers can be seen from around Union Station- I will try to get some pictures for you of the recently renovated water statues

Awesome and LOL

exactly my point!

I know it's going to be a nightmare trying to park in those two relatively tiny parking lots on either side of the GW Parkway with thousands of ticket holders all having the same plan.

and it's still freaking hot- and I have been indoors watching Young Washington in the Tysons Mall!

lord give me strength.

for those in the Capitol Region you can hear concert simulcast

WETA 90.9 NPR

starting at 2000

EVERY YEAR since 1997 I listen to this on Independence Day.

CHILLS. you won't regret it.

LMCane said:

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Awesome and LOL

exactly my point!

I know it's going to be a nightmare trying to park in those two relatively tiny parking lots on either side of the GW Parkway with thousands of ticket holders all having the same plan.

and it's still freaking hot- and I have been indoors watching Young Washington in the Tysons Mall!

lord give me strength.

---

We seem to be on the same track. Going to see Young Washington tomorrow evening in Arlington before watching fireworks on the mall (from across the Potomac).

Desert Ag said:

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LMCane said:

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Awesome and LOL

exactly my point!

I know it's going to be a nightmare trying to park in those two relatively tiny parking lots on either side of the GW Parkway with thousands of ticket holders all having the same plan.

and it's still freaking hot- and I have been indoors watching Young Washington in the Tysons Mall!

lord give me strength.

---

We seem to be on the same track. Going to see Young Washington tomorrow evening in Arlington before watching fireworks on the mall (from across the Potomac).

---

Young Washington is a great movie - and anyone who loves our country should go see it to honor our 250th. Embodies what made us different as Americans and why we continue to be different than all others nations.

AgDad121619 said:

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Desert Ag said:

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LMCane said:

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Awesome and LOL

exactly my point!

I know it's going to be a nightmare trying to park in those two relatively tiny parking lots on either side of the GW Parkway with thousands of ticket holders all having the same plan.

and it's still freaking hot- and I have been indoors watching Young Washington in the Tysons Mall!

lord give me strength.

---

We seem to be on the same track. Going to see Young Washington tomorrow evening in Arlington before watching fireworks on the mall (from across the Potomac).

---

Young Washington is a great movie - and anyone who loves our country should go see it to honor our 250th. Embodies what made us different as Americans and why we continue to be different than all others nations.

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it had special meaning to see Mount Vernon tonight after watching YOUNG WASHINGTON in the theater this afternoon.

Providence divinely ordained that we should have Colonel Washington available in 1775.

I sacked up and headed out in 108 degrees with the heat index to get you Ags some on the ground coverage:

As I mentioned previously PBS showed live on television and will broadcast again tomorrow the CAPITOL FOURTH annual concert with the NSO

they had a live feed from Mount Vernon- Loren Allred who actually won two grammies. and hot

I was in the background on some of her broadcasts on PBS if you look to the right hand side

from the front portico they had a very good concert band play for about an hour. great patriotic music and the conductor discussed what each song meant

This was a Members Only event so they had a place to get selfies

The only good French left in France

the Foreign Legion Band

felt bad for these guys as they were standing in the sun and the larger crowd was on the other side of Mount Vernon

and the main event.

I may have a heart attack after jogging 1/3 mile out of there as soon as the last fireworks went off to beat the thousands out of the parking lot and back north on GW parkway.

jeremy said:

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Its a tragedy these "artists" would skip a 250 year celebration.

"Eff em"

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Looking at the names on the list, I would not drive 30 feet to see any or all of them

AgDad121619 said:

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This truly is a shame that the mainstream media and TDS folks can't STFU about Trump for one day and actually celebrate the greatest country in the history of the world. Love or hate him, he is putting on a celebration worthy of our 250th.

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They not only hate Trump, they also hate many things about our country as well.

LMCane said:

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The only good French left in France

the Foreign Legion Band

felt bad for these guys as they were standing in the sun and the larger crowd was on the other side of Mount Vernon

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I had the great opportunity to visit Mount Vernon with the Grapevine Highschool Choir when my son was in high school. He went on the sing with the Texas A&M Singing Cadets for five years and was a member of the Aggienizors , barbershop quartet . Great trip in the 1990's when it was still nice. It was my second trip to DC. The first time was when my husband had to do his summer camp as part of his Army ROTC commitment. He was a VA pharmacist and spent his summer camp working in the pharmacy at Walter Reed.

Thanks for sharing LM Cane!

AgDad121619 said:

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This truly is a shame that the mainstream media and TDS folks can't STFU about Trump for one day and actually celebrate the greatest country in the history of the world. Love or hate him, he is putting on a celebration worthy of our 250th.

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I took the time to have a business meeting with a guy in London this morning. This is a day off for me, but business does not really follow holidays. As we were wrapping up the call, he said in his most limey accent, "Oh, I guess today is a holiday for you guys in the states." I said, "It is, but this is what I do. I am certain that you guys don't even like to think about it." His retort was, "Mate, we still think about it more than you know!"

He may have been a pint or two into it as I purposely set the call for 11:30am CST. Suck it Brits, and happy 250 everyone. I remember 1976 like it was yesterday, time flies!

Awesome, where could one get one of those?

Asking for a friend of course....

heading downtown soon and logistics are going to be a @#$#@

another scorcher so hopefully I can hang in there until I get computer connectivity again

will post pics from Reading of Declaration of Independence at 1000 and Parade at 1145