Broadway & First
Though the LibertyFest Parade has been cancelled, the Murdock family will still sit in “our spot” at Broadway and First to celebrate. Our family has resolved to keep a 30-year tradition of gathering for a lawn chair breakfast.
We take Fourth of July seriously. Our friends playfully call it “The Murdock Christmas.” Our tradition began before I was old enough to form memories, but we have pictures in patriotic outfits to prove our presence at the parade. As the years have passed and crowds have grown, spots have become a hot commodity, especially on the shady side to avoid the blaring July sun. I doubt we’ll have to fight for our spot this year.
The Murdocks aspire to perfect attendance. We’ve sat in our spot after the OKC bombing, in times of war, after 9/11, following horrific tornadoes and local tragedies, in tense election years, in rain, in cold, and in blistering heat. This year, the pandemic makes a parade gathering dangerous to the very community we love. So instead, we will gather our family, don our patriotic apparel, snap a few photos for the memories, and remember that the Fourth of July is a time to honor the sacrifices made for the greater good. This is not an act of defiance, but in declaration of our hope that we will gather once again.
The tradition began with our family of four. We have my mom and dad, Denise and Steve, to thank for their commitment to tradition on Fourth of July and to the community every day in between. My sister Mallory and her husband Jason have passed the love of Fourth of July to their children, Deacon and Salem. My husband David and I will add another girl to our family later this year. Our daughter Corrie is thrilled to be a big sister to Merritt! The Murdocks can be found in this spot every Fourth of July morning. Next year, we hope and pray it’s alongside 50,000 of our closest friends.
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