July 4th in Northern Utah

[BKPowell]

This year, here in North Ogden, Utah, USA, in the shadow of Mount Ben Lomond , July 4th falls on a Sunday so the Cherry Days 4th of July parade is on Saturday, July 3rd. Every year, we gather at my friend's house at the top of Washington Blvd just below 2850 North Street to watch the parade.
As the color guard passes by, a lone bagpiper stands on his lawn in front of his home and plays the National Anthem. Everyone stands and addresses the color guard with honor and respect. When the piper completes his tune, everyone cheers and applauds, and we return to our sets to watch and enjoy the parade.
I am proud to know this piper, he is my friend and we have much in common.
This year, I would like to invite my kilted friends to join us for this occasion, come kilted, or just come and enjoy our little celebration, you are welcome.
Of course, I will be wearing one of my kilts, not sure which, but I will be there. So will my friend and his pipes.

Hope to see you there,
Brad

BTW, the parade starts around 10 a.m., look for the guys in the kilts!

[BKPowell]

I just wanted to write a follow-up to this thread.
Bright and early on the morning of July 3rd, while wearing a kilt that my wife believed was the Montgomery tartan, my son & daughter walked with me down to the park where we enjoyed breakfast.
I was greeted in line by friends and strangers alike, they all had kind words about me being kilted. One fellow asked why I was wearing a kilt and I explained that North Ogden was settled by pioneers that came from Scotland and this was one way to honor them.
Another fellow approached me and asked if I was from Scotland, because he and his wife were going there next week. I told him that I wasn't but I sure wanted to go.
After breakfast, the entire neighborhood gathered at the home of my good friend. He wore a Black UK and played the pipes as the color guard marched by, leading the parade. When the final note faded away, everyone cheered.

After the parade, my wife, my sons and I went back to the park and enjoyed the music and the food. This time, I wore my Black UK.
I had one comment, someone called out "Nice Kilt!"
I saw one other fellow there that wore a bluish-green kilt with box pleats, not sure who he was.

In the evening, my boys and wife wanted to take in a movie at the Megaplex 13 Theater in downtown Ogden, but on the way, we stopped at Home Depot to get some hardware items. As we were coming into the store, a gal with an English accent was asking my son Landon something. I couldn't quite hear what it was, but when I got closer, the woman asked "What do you wear under there?" I gave her the standard answer "shoe & socks". She said, "But you're not wearing any socks." I replied, "Well, then just shoes".
Actually, it was sandals.

When I asked my son what she was talking to him about, he told me that she said the fashion in Paris and New York, as well as California, is men wearing skirts. My son explained to her that it wasn't a skirt but a kilt. She said she thought it looked like a skirt and didn't expect to see anyone in this part of the country to be wearing a kilt. Now, the part about the men wearing skirts in New York and Paris I am not sure about. You folks that live in those places need to confirm that one for me.

Anyway, as we were walking thru the store picking up items, a lady approached me and asked me about my kilt. Her 17-year son wanted a kilt and she made one for him, but she really liked mine and wanted to know where I got it. I told her I had ordered from Utilitikilt on-line several years ago, but she could go to Rainbow Gardens up Ogden Canyon and get one.
She thanked me after we had a nice chat.

At the Megaplex, no one seemed to notice that I was kilted.

It was a great weekend! The only time I was not kilted was at church, my wife still has a problem with that, even though I tried to explain that everyone at my church has already seen me in a blue and purple tartan kilt. Other that, no matter where I went, I was kilted and the response from everyone was positive.

Thanks for your time and your comments are welcome,

Brad

[Mike_Oettle]

BKPowell wrote: “The only time I was not kilted was at church, my wife still has a problem with that . . .”

Interesting. I have been thinking that when I acquire a kilt at long last, the first place I ought to wear it is in church – more so becase I am hoping that it will be in a tartan that symbolises Christianity.
But my wife also has strange ideas. At the same time, we are no longer attending the same church (long story). So perhaps I will do it anyway.
Regards,
Mike

[Cygnus]

I think Matt Newsome does a pretty good job of summing up the womenfolk's reasoning here (my own wife included).

I'm in the "you wear 'Sunday best' to church and the kilt is my best" camp, but I can understand the other view as well.

Cheers,

Brian