The big event in the Black Hills last night was fireworks at Mt Rushmore and the appearance of President Trump. Regardless of your political affiliation, seeing Air Force one do a fly-over at Mt Rushmore, then landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base was impressive (all covered by the local TV stations). The President and party then flew by helicopter from the base to Mt Rushmore (we could see them from our RV site while enroute)... two Marine 1 type helicopters with 4 Osprey aircraft as escorts.
Fly-overs by the Blue Angels and two B1B bombers from Ellsworth. Speeches by the Governor, the Secretary of the Interior, and President Trump.
First time in 11 years that there have been fireworks at Rushmore (due to forest fire concerns), and it was a coordinated effort by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, The Department of the Interior, and the President. Fire Departments from around the area were standing by near the Memorial. It was a lot of pomp and circumstance and quite the start to the holiday weekend locally.
We are about 20 miles from Mt Rushmore, so we couldn't see the fireworks from our site, but the viewing was good on TV... and we didn't have to fight the traffic and crowds. The crowd at the amphitheater at Rushmore was 7,500, with no social distancing. Those tickets were offered in a lottery. The festivities started at 4:00 in the afternoon, and the fireworks ended at 10:00pm... I can only imagine the traffic going to and from the Memorial.
Protesters did block Highway 16 for a short time, but were dispersed by SD National Guard. There are some Native Americans who feel the Black Hills were wrongfully taken from them when gold was discovered in the Black Hills in the 1870s. Some of those think that the carvings at Mt Rushmore should be removed. Governor Noem emphatically stated, "Not on my watch."
While we will probably be avoiding an up-close visit to Mt Rushmore this year, it is an impressive and patriotic memorial. Sometime after this weekend, we will do a drive-by.
From last year...
There are 4th of July activities here at Hart Ranch - we plan to stay pretty close to home. Do the patriotic thing: eat a hot dog and a hamburger. Because... America!
The
big event in the Black Hills last night was fireworks at Mt Rushmore
and the appearance of President Trump. Regardless of your political
affiliation, seeing Air Force one do a fly-over at Mt Rushmore, then
landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base was impressive (all covered my the
local TV stations). The President and party then flew by helicopter
from the base to Mt Rushmore (we could see them from our RV site while
enroute).
First
time in 11 years that there have been fireworks at Rushmore (due to
forest fire concerns), and it was a coordinated effort by South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem, The Department of the Interior, and the
President. Fire Departments from around the area were standing by near
the Memorial. It was a lot of pomp and circumstance and quite the start
to the holiday weekend locally.
The
big event in the Black Hills last night was fireworks at Mt Rushmore
and the appearance of President Trump. Regardless of your political
affiliation, seeing Air Force one do a fly-over at Mt Rushmore, then
landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base was impressive (all covered my the
local TV stations). The President and party then flew by helicopter
from the base to Mt Rushmore (we could see them from our RV site while
enroute).
First
time in 11 years that there have been fireworks at Rushmore (due to
forest fire concerns), and it was a coordinated effort by South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem, The Department of the Interior, and the
President. Fire Departments from around the area were standing by near
the Memorial. It was a lot of pomp and circumstance and quite the start
to the holiday weekend locally.
No comments:
Post a Comment