RAHWAY, N.J., July 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- There are many holidays that Americans enjoy. Halloween allows adults to become children again, relishing in ghoulish delight. Christmas and Thanksgiving allow one to gather with friends and family to celebrate what's truly important. Valentine's Day is adored by women while men complain about the one-way street nature of the holiday. However, one holiday allows for a lot of fun while also letting oneself bask in patriotic pride: the Fourth of July. The residents of the Grand Meridia in Rahway, New Jersey, look forward to this holiday every year, and there are a number of celebratory events that can be found nearby.
John Adams believed that future Americans would celebrate July 2nd as their Independence Day due to the fact that was the date the Continental Congress approved Richard Henry Lee's resolution on independence from Great Britain. However, history has proven him wrong as Americans look to July 4th, 1776, as the founding date of the United States as that was the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia held the first Fourth of July celebration in 1777, and Congress finally made it a federal holiday in 1870. (1)
The 29,451 denizens of Rahway, New Jersey, are a patriotic lot and eagerly look forward to celebrating the country's birthday. (2) One Fourth of July event that those living at the Grand Meridia usually attend is Rahway's fireworks show. This year, the fireworks display is being held on July 3rd at City Hall Plaza. The fireworks spectacular is scheduled to begin at 9pm, and if rained out, it will take place on July 5th. (3)
There are plenty of other Fourth of July events that residents of the Grand Meridia can enjoy. As Rahway is very close to New York City, locals should easily find something to do on the Fourth of July as the number of celebrations in NYC is extremely numerous. Many nearby communities are also having Fourth of July events of their own. The most notable is in Maplewood, which is only 13 miles from Rahway. Maplewood is having an all-day festival on July 4th, featuring amusement park rides and games, eating contests, live music from 16 bands, a car show, a parade, and a circus. The Zerbini Family Circus, who has been in the circus business for over 250 years, returns once again to Maplewood to put on five performances. Fireworks will follow a light show spectacular, and the fireworks are being handled by Garden State Fireworks, Inc., the oldest and largest fireworks business in the United States. (4)
A number of those living at the luxurious Grand Meridia apartment complex choose to honor the Fourth of July by visiting the Rahway Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for 70 Revolutionary War soldiers. However, the most notable grave is that of Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The British captured Clark's two sons who were serving in the Continental Army and beat and tortured them. The British offered Clark the lives of his two sons held in captivity if he would recant his signing of the Declaration of Independence. Abraham Clark refused.
Jessica Abreu of the Grand Meridia says, "The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. We get to celebrate America's birthday with a lot of pomp, fun, and fireworks. Being so close to New York City, there's so many activities going on there, it's worth a trip to the Big Apple some years just to get caught up in the excitement. Personally, I enjoy watching the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest every year on TV. I plan on catching Rahway's fireworks event on July 3rd and then one of the other local Fourth of July celebrations the following day. One popular destination for our residents is the massive event held in Maplewood, full of classic cars, carnival-style games, and a circus. Rahway and the surrounding communities know how to celebrate the Fourth of July properly: lots of music, tasty food, and explosive displays of fireworks that light up the night sky." (5)
References:
1) https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th
2) https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nj/rahway/demographics
3) https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRahwayNJ/photos/a.245817819593.136925.83583694593/10156474204404594/?type=3&theater
4) http://www.maplewoodcivic.org/july4th/full-event-schedule/
SOURCE Grand Meridia
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