Proud to be an American

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As a kid, I remember going to outdoor fairs/exhibits during the summer. I remember the Renaissance fair at the local college, the air shows, the fire works displays at the local parks and of course, being a child of the 70′s I remember the Bicentennial celebrations and outdoor events.

On Saturday I celebrated Summer and Independence Day in this days-gone-by kind of way. My friend invited me to Old Threshers Reunion in Denton, NC. Having grown up in Chicago, I really didn’t know what I agreed to do.  I thought it was some sort of overgrown reunion for the Thresher family. Boy, did I get that wrong.

A thresher is a a farm machine that separates seeds or grain from husks and straw. For example, Eli Whitney’s cotton gin is a thresher. So knowing what a thresher is, you may wonder why they would have a reunion.

I got it the answer as soon as I saw all the tractors lined up. Its like antique car collecting. The people who attend this reunion are proud of preserving the history of our nation, especially how machinery has played a role in farming.

In an era of Internet, cellphones, cable TV and a plethora of other technical devices, it is fascinating to see real “machines” in action. Steam and early gasoline engines where everywhere. We were greeted by a beautifully restored working steam train and the sound of “hit and miss” engines was the melody we heard all day.

Along with the engines that were entered into the judged events, there were vendors of all sorts. There was a mix of carnival-style vendors selling t-shirts, trinkets, chicken on stick and Italian ice.

There was also a wide variety of flea market and antique vendors. Clearly the mission of these vendors was to entice the sales from the thresher enthusiasts. We found tables and tables of old tools, gears and spare parts. I found myself attracted to all the old oil cans. Do younger people even know what these are?

As someone who loves the “old way” of doing traditional craft, I found myself fascinated more than I could believe. The wood and iron combined with the beauty of the machinery and the smell of engine oil, had me mesmerized as we wondered the fair grounds. The people that were around us weren’t the big city type I grew up with.  Overalls seemed to be the respected uniform of the day. It was a step back in time, comforting me as it reminded me of my summer excursions as a kid.

At noon, everyone stopped. I mean everyone and we all turned toward the American flag to listen to the National Anthem sung over the loud speakers. This event alone sent chills down my spine. I so wanted to take out my camera to capture what I was seeing around me, but it was most important to respect what we were all doing. This day reminded me I am proud to be an American.