The Fourth of July Photo Essay: Celebrating Independence Day

The immigration officer stood up from his desk, waved us forward yelling, “NEXT!” The Husband handed him our two blue passports, a stack of papers and Princess Two’s red, Russian passport. The two blue passports were opened, checked and set aside. He turned to the red passport, it was opened and held with one hand while the other slowly turned and methodically stamped the bottom of each page with a loud thud.

Princess Two reached for a little American flag on his desk, I shifted her to the other hip. This was not the time to annoy this immigration officer. He was the last step in our journey back into the United States. Twenty hours of traveling with a curious and busy two-year-old who did not sleep had worn us down…but the nerves and adrenaline had kicked into high gear. We had her papers. We had everything, we just needed more stamps… The people in line behind us were growing more annoyed with each passing minute. They had connecting flights to make, places to be, friends to meet…but we had to get more stamps.

The immigration officer stamped the last piece of paper, raised his head and smiled. “Now, it’s time for the ‘special’ stamp.” He opened his desk drawer, pulled out that special stamp, picked up the red passport and turned to the correct page. As he stamped Princess Two’s Russian passport, he raised his head, took her little hand, shook it and said, “You are officially a citizen of the United States of America, little one. Welcome home.” The people in line behind us, realized what they had just waited for.

They clapped.

Whistled.

And yelled “congratulations”.

The little American flag on his desk was just a little flag. But there are few things, if any, that represent the United States and the freedoms its citizens have more than it does. Traveling has taught me more about these rights and how valuable they are…the day my daughter became a citizen reminded me just how valuable “home” was and that little flag took on more meaning.

This week the United States will celebrate the July 4th holiday – our Independence day – I’m excited to share our annual photo essay capturing the American flag, and other historical landmarks in the United States that have been captured by many of my fellow travel writers.

 

American Flag Photo Essay: Celebrating Independence Day

Thank you to this years contributors – Jenna Kvidt at Wander the Map, Megan Claire at Mapping Megan, Noel Morata at A Big Island Life, Lauren and Kenin Bassart at Constant Rambler, Mary Chong at Calculated Traveller and Jennifer Close at Two Kids and a Map.

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice for all.”

If you have any photos you’d like to share of the American flag from your travels I’d love to see them on Carpe Travels Facebook page.  In the meantime, please take a look at this years photo essay and take a minute this holiday to remember just what the flag represents to you…

Thanks again to this years contributors, make sure to click over to see more of their photos – Jenna Kvidt at Wander the Map, Megan Claire at Mapping Megan, Noel Morata at A Big Island Life, Lauren and Kenin Bassart at Constant Rambler, Mary Chong at Calculated Traveller and Jennifer Close at Two Kids and a Map.