It’s the event on which Bristol’s “oldest, continuous” claim to fame is based, and while it may not have the excitement of a big horn section or a string band of sequined Mummers, the solemn hour of speeches held each year on the steps of the Colt School beginning at 8:30 a.m. reflects the real meaning of the holiday.

The Bristol 4th of July Celebration began in 1785 when Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and Veteran of the Revolutionary War conducted the first Patriotic Exercises.

Speakers including Judy Squires, co-chairman of the Exercises, Chuck MacDonough, General Chairman of the celebration, and Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro introduced honored guests and dignitaries, all leading to the main event: a stirring address by the year’s Patriotic Speaker.

“I normally have no shortage of words when I'm passionate about something,” said Chief Marshal and Town Administrator Steve Contente. “It’s just great being here together. I think the weather is going to hold off for us, but even if it didn’t, I'm sure we'd all still be here. Thanks for being great citizens and residents.”

“I will start with a big thank you to our active duty military,” said MacDonough, “and especially our veterans.” He also offered a special thank you to the crew of the U.S.S. Minneapolis Saint Paul, the visiting Navy ship which held a pair of re-enlistment ceremonies for two sailors as part of the exercises.

Nancy Ragano Beaven, a Bristol native and resident of New Zealand was presented with a flag, courtesy of Senator Jack Reed, for traveling the greatest distance to attend the festivities — over 9,000 miles.

Karl Antonevich of the Bristol Veterans Council was honored as the Hattie Brawn Award winner for his many years of service to both Veterans and the community. “I just want to say that the biggest mistake I ever made in life was not moving here the day I got out of the service,” he said. “You’ve got to love this town; it's easy to volunteer here. God bless America, and God bless Bristol.”

Patriotic Speaker delivered a stirring speech
The Patriotic Speaker, retired Colonel Joseph McGraw of Portsmouth, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1994 and commanded special forces units for over two decades, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. He currently serves as an associate professor at the Naval War College in Newport, where he teaches in the Joint Military Operations Department.

“To the rightfully proud Bristolians who still own the longest continuous celebration of our nation's birthday and to all of you who are taking time out of your holiday weekend to gather here in the morning with rain threatening…there's many things that you can be doing right now but you're here and it's important. So thank you for being here.”

McGraw delivered an excellent speech. He began by comparing the two “truly unique” American holidays: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.

“Thanksgiving is the American holiday where we recognize our blessings of life and liberty…It is truly a unique holiday tradition in that respect. It allows us to share a common vision of a better future, a more perfect union. While Thanksgiving mobilizes and connections and inspires at the family level the Fourth of July does the same thing at the community level.”

McGraw noted that the United States’ national birthday is unique because of what we celebrate on that day — not a battle or a coronation, but an idea.

“What we celebrate on this day is not just a rejection of tyrannical governance,” he said. “The Fourth of July is an anniversary of an experiment in governing principles that has been the greatest force for unlocking human liberty that the world has ever seen, and while the Declaration of Independence was crafted and ratified by imperfect people and practiced imperfectly, the ideals within the Declaration remain today as a perfect common light to our better future.”

“The Declaration of Independence is not just our birth document. It's our national North Star.”

He went on to evoke two powerful examples of how those ideals played out locally, examples of heroism from the past and the present.

The First Rhode Island regiment, known as the “Black regiment” was formed in 1775 and was one of the very few units that fought from the start to the finish of the war. During the Battle of Rhode Island they held off three successive charges by Hessian and British regulars. Had the enemy forces broken through they would have crushed one of the largest pieces of Washington's Army.

“Our campaign in New England and the very War for Independence may have taken a much different direction,” McGraw said. “But the first Rhode Island did hold; it's a true American story of heroes.”

“The first Rhode Island regiment was formed with the enlistment of free black men, Native Americans, indentured servants and former slaves…very different men from very different backgrounds who shared a common vision of fighting for the promise of individual liberty and just governance.”

“1778 was a long time ago,” McGraw said. “One of my most enduring memories of America and Americans at their very best happened right here in Bristol, just eight years ago, and this community should forever be known for it.”

He went on to tell how the community turned out in honor of First sergeant Andrew McKenna, a Green Beret who died in August 2015, while responding to a surprise attack on an Allied base in Afghanistan. McKenna’s heroism saved the lives of untold numbers of service members that night.

“He represented the very best of what our country stands for,” said McGraw of McKenna.

“Bristol is like most other American communities. It's full of people with different backgrounds different cultures different ideas and certainly different politics,” McGraw said. “But on the day of Andrew's funeral the community of Bristol turned out to honor him and stand in loving support of Andrew’s family…the entire community was drawn together for the common purpose of celebrating together the ideals for which Andrew lived and died.”

“The Fourth of July is not just a celebration of an anniversary. It's the renewal of our community spirit to pursue our common ideals. It's an annual reminder to put beside our superficial differences and remember those things that bind us together.”