Reliving American birthday observations over the years

It was 100 degrees as the sun was setting and a toddler with red curls was running toward the Ferris wheel on the National Mall, part of the national State Fair for America’s 250th birthday. The kid was trying to get my attention – he seemed to like being the center of things. He seemed to want to be leading an army as he got others’ attention, as he kept moving forward.

I looked around to try to f…