Mike O'Connell

Last night one had the option of watching either of two no doubt interesting programs on TV: CNN’s The Nineties and the History Channel’s new special on Amelia Earhart. I watched the Earhart program if for no other reason that CNN is more likely to put its show on demand. (Yup, that’s 21st century living.)

I found Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence to be worth two hours of my time. Spoiler alert… she’s still missing, but after watching the show I’m at least 10-15 percent less certain that her plane went down somewhere in the Pacific never to be seen again, as the government-sponsored tale has gone the past 80 years. New evidence (if we want to call it that) places Earhart in Japanese hands after July 1937, perhaps the first American casualty of what would later be called World War II.

Conclusive evidence? Hardly. Entertaining TV? For sure.

Now fast-forward a few decades and be ready to get your ’90s on!

Starter jacket optional.

In the 19^th century and into the early part of the 20^th century it was customary that on the Fourth of July a public official–a mayor, a judge, a justice of the peace–would recite the text of the Declaration of Independence in a public place for residents to come together as a community and celebrate our independence.

Like many traditions, this one faded, and now it is difficult to find such an event anywhere in the nation, let alone one’s hometown. I’m aiming to amend that today in Loudoun County, Virginia.

The text of the Declaration is mostly the work of our third president, Thomas Jefferson. At the time Jefferson was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Virginia, and three years later he would be elected governor of this state. Jefferson was the main author among a committee of five men tasked with composing a formal document proclaiming our independence from the kingdom of Great Britain. The committee presented its work to the entire congress at the end of June 1776.

The final, edited version of what they delivered was accepted by a larger committee, then was printed in colonial newspapers on July 4, 1776. Today it can be found in less than a second via any Internet search. Or, to hear it read, come to the Sterling Community Center playground today at 11 a.m. The center is located at 120 Enterprise Street in Sterling, Virginia. The speaker will be the author of this blog.

KILLEBREW, Patrick, “Pat,” age 68, passed away peacefully at home, June 20, 2017, after watching the Washington Nationals relief pitchers blow yet another lead.

So began Mr. Killebrew’s obituary listed this week in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Sometimes we alert one another to obituaries because we know the people involved… other times because they’re clever. (Sometimes because they’re just really well written.)

His obit ends with a plea to, in lieu of flowers, send donations to the Nationals Bullpen Fund.

You see yesterday’s game?

Guess they’re still in the raising money phase.

Mark your calendars: the second annual Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence comes to the Sterling Community Center playground next Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at 11 a.m.

Details to follow.

This day each year I usually make some comment here or elsewhere about the first day of summer. I suppose this year should be no different.

It’s always strange to think of June 21 as the first day of summer. It’s been 90 degrees here for a month and school turned to summer camp almost two weeks ago. I do appreciate the extra daylight, topping out today in the 20164 at nearly 15 hours, from a sunrise at 5:44 a.m. to sunset at 8:38 p.m.

Well, I appreciate the extra daylight on the later end. When I’ve got a boy encouraging me to get up at 5:44 I’m less enthused.

#luckydadproblems