A man walked hurriedly across the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge toward Coolidge Park holding two ice cream cones, bouncing his eyes between the wooden planks ahead and the ice cream as it began to drip under the heat of the setting sun.
Among the holiday crowds on the North Shore, folks sailed plastic discs across the Coolidge Park lawn or sipped beverages in chairs strategically positioned for both shade and views of the coming fireworks.
Chattanooga got a head start on celebrating the nation's 240th birthday Sunday evening. The bridge and both sides of the river it crosses teemed with people ringing in the Fourth of July at Pops on the River with a hearty dose of patriotism and reflection on what it means to be an American in 2016.
"To me, this day is about pride in our country," said Bill Gray, who sported his Vietnam War Air Force veteran cap. "It represents independence and it also honors those who gave their lives, the original patriots who sacrificed their lives."
Gray and his wife, Beverly, came from Huntsville, Ala., to enjoy Sunday's festivities. Beverly nodded in agreement as her husband expressed both appreciation for the nation and concern over its upcoming presidential election.
"Unfortunately, I don't think we have a decent choice this year," he said.
For some Chattanoogans, this holiday carries an added meaning after the shooting deaths of five servicemen here on July 16, 2015.
"It makes us appreciate those who serve," said Roy, a Chattanooga resident who didn't want to give his last name. From his choice spot on the Walnut Street bridge, with a great view of the fireworks to come, Roy mentioned media reports of an explosion in New York's Central Park as evidence even the holiday weekend was not immune to violent scares.
"This election year is going to be a joke," he added.
LaTausia and Willie Felder of Atlanta sipped beers beneath the Market Street Bridge, scouting where they would go next to get in position for the fireworks.
Having driven up just for the day, they raved about their experience in Chattanooga and the improvements in the city over the last 20 years. They offered mixed feelings about the nation's past and its future.
"Overall, it's independence," Willie Felder said. "I do have animosity because of some things that happened in the past. You've got to move on, though, and America itself has come a long way. We still have a lot of racism in America, and that equal quality of life is still missing in a sense. But overall, we've come a long way and it's exciting."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
