The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — After covering the Fourth of July parade in Steamboat Springs, a reporter for this newspaper commented that the crowd lining Lincoln Avenue contained, to her, a surprisingly large number of out-of-towners.

People from Denver, across Colorado and numerous states traveled to Steamboat for the holiday weekend’s festivities. The variety of geographic backgrounds certainly was eye-opening.

But the number of visitors really shouldn’t be surprising, and not just because Steamboat is a resort community that thrives on tourism’s economic engine.

At a time when the United States is beset by tumultuous issues of all kinds — war in Iraq and Afghanistan; devastating floods in the Midwest; a stagnant economy; a national debt “knocking on the door of $10 trillion,” as U.S. Rep. John Salazar told newspaper staff last week; and dollar-guzzling gas prices, to name a few — Americans naturally need a respite from turmoil.

As the Fourth of July weekend draws to a close, it is clear that there likely is no finer place for that respite than the Yampa Valley, where so many of the best things about our nation and our community were on full display.

Who couldn’t smile at the vitality of youth when, for example, young swimmers on Team Lightning fired water cannons into the parade crowd and Perry Mansfield performers turned Lincoln Avenue into a dance floor?

The valley’s ranching heritage — alive and well today — was never more apparent han when the Brent Romick bleachers and Howelsen hillside were overflowing with spectators for the Fourth of July rodeo.

Patriotic pride and respect for service were nearly tangible when local military veterans displayed the American flag on horseback and when a moving tribute for those currently serving preceded the parade.

And who couldn’t feel honor and awe in celebrating the birth of our nation, 232 years ago, as fireworks burst over the city?

The fireworks provide another lesson, not because the finale was cut short because of small fires and electrical problems, but because the reason such a finale was even planned is the enormous generosity and effort of Tim and Scott Borden.

The father-son duo put a huge amount of personal dollars and time into the Fourth of July fireworks every year, for the simple reason that, as Tim said last week, “I really like this town.”

And the fact that they shot a little too big in 2008 — flew too close to the sun, perhaps — just means they dream big and want the best for their community.

So did everyone who participated in local events this weekend, from Steamboat Springs to South Routt, Hayden and Hahn’s Peak Village. It is exactly that kind of energy and neighborly spirit that, when extrapolated across a nation, creates much more reason for optimism than negativity.

It’s no wonder that so many people traveled far for a taste of that spirit here in our slice of beautiful Northwest Colorado.