Happy 4th of July Houston! Celebrate at Houston’s downtown Freedom Festival 2009!!

July 4, 6:00 AMHouston Legal Issues ExaminerSami Hartsfield

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FILE - In this July 4, 2008 file photo, fireworks explode
over Washington, as seen from Arlington, Va. From left
to right is the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument,
and the Lincoln Memorial.
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, file)

Today and, in particular, tonight, all eyes in Houston will be on Shell Oil’s 2009 annual Freedom over Texas Festival, billed as the “largest land-based fireworks show in the nation!” The fun starts on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at Eleanor Tinsley Park, at 4 pm, with the fireworks set to begin at 9:30 pm. Best of all, admission is FREE, just like our beloved country!

This year’s headline is country-music superstar Clay Walker. And the festival will be honoring “Houston’s Hero’s,” featuring military members and NASA Astronauts (40th anniversary of the historic landing of Apollo 11 on the moon!).

Three stages will keep freedom-loving Americans in festive spirits, featuring country-western music, Latin, pop, and the oldies but goodies.

Budweiser Beer Garden will feature a wide variety of crafted and imported beers.

Liberty Park will display vintage military artifacts, and vehicles representative of all five of the United States’ military branches..

Uncle Sam Rounseville, of Quincy, Mass., who had his name legally changed, on Friday, July 3, 2009 in Boston. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Plus, visit the Fiesta All-American Kid Zone and play games with the kiddies, get their faces painted, and keep ‘em entertained.

Great food and beverages will be on sale throughout the festival, so nobody will go hungry.

The pyrotechnic fireworks display will be choreographed to music “from patriotic songs to rock ‘n’ roll hits to classic bestsellers.”

FILE - In this July 4, 2008 file photo, fireworks burst in
the sky over the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Ben
Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Auto club AAA says
fewer people will be traveling this July Fourth holiday,
even though gas is far cheaper this year and falling.
(AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek, file)

What are some of our world-envied rights?

• Freedom of assembly;
  
• Freedom of speech;
  
• Freedom of religion;
  
• Right to petition the government for a redress of grievances;
  
• Freedom of unreasonable search and seizure;
  
• Right to be secure in our person;
  
• Right to move freely;
  
• Right to keep and bear arms;
  
• Right to privacy;
  
• No impairment on the obligations of contracts;
  
• Right to due process of law;
  
• Right to a public and speedy trial;
  
• Right to vote; and many more!!

Keep in mind that it will be very hot today, so be sure to drink plenty of water. You may bring an umbrella for shade (and in fact, it’s not a bad idea), but the umbrella must be the short variety (no larger than 4 ft in diameter). You also may not bring coolers as all the beverages you need will be on sale throughout the festival grounds. You can see a complete list of rules and regulations here.

Come celebrate that we are fortunate enough to live in the best -- and yes, freest -- country in the whole world! Have a happy and safe Fourth of July America – you’ve earned it!

And be sure to say "thank you!" to all our brave service- men and women for gallantly, selflessly fighting for all we hold dear.