OMG, 50 years?

[HAB911]

I think I have shown these before, but wanted to revisit before the weekend’s 250th. 50 years ago we celebrated our birthday with joy. I see none of that today when it should be an even more joyous celebration.

I had only been out of the Army for 2 years, returning to my civilian career, and It was before I began constant air travel, driving around the southeast for work. Wherever I saw a sign or logo of the bicentennial, I stopped and took a photo because I hoped to be here with you today to share them.

In the deck are some bicentennial painted jets from Tyndall AFB where I worked, and several photos I can’t remember where they were taken. A few were taken at Kennedy Space Center as they were painting the Vehicle Assembly Building with the bicentennial logo. I was there on a tour at that time, and little did I know that in 1984 I would return to install a telephone system serving the entire shuttle processing area. Photos from that time and a more recent visit can be seen here including a shuttle launch in 1984: https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/60-YEAR-JOURNEY-IN-PHOTOGRAPHY/A-LITTLE-BIT-OF-EVERYTHING/NASA

Go back with me to that time with a very small slide deck.
https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/PHOTOS-BACK-TO-THE-1960S/1776-CIRCA-1976

Here are a few samples of 1776 in 1976:

[Historic NY]

1. I had a fire hydrant still painted red/white/blue

its was so hidden away, the water dept never changed it. I was inspecting hydrants in my fire district around 2000 and there it was. Unfortunately it got maintenance that was missing repainted according to color for water pressure.

[twodogsbarking]

2. I have a bicentennial rice can with Uncle Ben's picture. Don't try and lowball me, I know what I have.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Thanks for the historic photos, my dear HAB911!

Sadly, I agree with you about how we the people are feeling about this bicentennial. With the current regime in place, there is much to make us wonder how it all went so wrong.

Nonetheless, Happy Bicentennial!