July 4, 1776—249 years ago—the Declaration of Independence was adopted. This past Friday, this was celebrated at Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos. During the annual celebration across the United States, Americans pause and reflect on our nation’s past and consider the freedoms we enjoy today.
The Los Gatos chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) had a booth in the Meadow. They reminded us that next year will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation.
Janet McAlpine, a DAR member, stated that “a really big bash is being planned for next year to help celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and California will celebrate 175 years of statehood on Sept. 9 of this year.”
DAR has over a million members, was founded in 1890 in Washington, D.C., and is a nonprofit, non-political, volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. (For more information visit dar.org america250.org.)
The weather cooperated this year, and the Town had organized something for everyone. Mexican dishes to chicken and waffles with shaved ice cones were offered from the food trucks parked under the oaks. Bouncy houses lined one end of the meadow and the San Jose Wind Symphony band was seated at the bandstand ready to break out into tunes to fill the air and entertain all ages.
The Kiwanians placed temporary tattoos on willing attendees and offered drinks. The geese stayed away. The Billy Jones Wildcat railroad was full of riders as was the carousel. In the booth area for Town representatives, the Arts and Culture Commission was busy. This commission was created to “build a more creative, connected, and beautiful Los Gatos.” They even had a public opinion survey you could fill out.
Pledging allegiance
At the opening of this ceremony—after the Scouts presented the Flag—the crowd was asked to rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Hats were removed by the men and hands were placed over the hearts. Veterans had tears in their eyes. Those who gave all to our country were noticeably absent as the San Jose Wind Symphony began to play.
Children enjoyed the annual bicycle parade. Mayor Matthew Hudes climbed into the lead golf cart and waved to the crowd.
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan)
He gave a shout-out to the Los Gatos Library, Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation, Los Gatos Boy Scout Troop 2, DAR, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos, Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, D.A.R.T., Parks and Public Works Department, the Town Commission’s representatives, Office of Gail Pellerin and the San Jose Wind Symphony.
Hudes then introduced “special guest Congressman Sam Liccardo, who represents our district, with a strong record of leading economic growth and good governance, and now advocates for bold bipartisan solutions to lower costs, expand housing affordability, strengthen public safety and accelerate America’s clean energy and innovative leadership. He also has an affinity for Los Gatos.”
Los Gatos Council members Maria Ristow and Rob Moore were also in attendance.
District 16 Representative Liccardo, 55, emphasized the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
“You have no idea how happy I am to be back here in Los Gatos, and be in California,” he said, referring to the narrow loss by Democrats in the “Big Beautiful Bill” fight. “I just got back last night, at about 11pm, from the flight after that marathon vote, and I just wanted to say, it is always something that brings me both joy and energy to be back home and thanks. Thank you to the Wind Symphony for sharing your talents today and being with us here on the Fourth of July.”
Speaking to Hudes, he continued, “I love the hat, and as you all can tell from his cane, that he is here just a week off surgery; and I am grateful for his public service as well as that and Vice Mayor Rob Moore. We are well served here in the Town of Los Gatos.”
Retired Maj. Gen. Kent Hillhouse said a few words on the behalf of the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation. He added that former mayor John Lochner, now 96, is fighting cancer.
In his speech, Liccardo reflected on the word “indivisible” in the Pledge of Allegiance.
“Having returned from Washington, D.C., you can imagine it’s not a word we hear enough,” he said. “Unity is so critically important to us as we see the beautiful symbol of our flag in so many different forms. All 50 of the stars representing each of our states, all 13 stripes representing the original colonies, all in one flag.”
He said Martin Luther King Jr. felt the same way.
“And unity doesn’t mean uniformity,” Liccardo said. “As great Dr. King reminds us, we can all have different beliefs. But this American experiment is so critically important.”
He shared one of the historical figure’s most poignant quotes: “We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools.”
