Opinion: Make Independence Day First Monday of July

So this year, did you celebrate the Forth of July on Saturday, June 30? Or did you celebrate it on Wednesday, July 4? Perhaps you are scheduled to celebrate it this coming weekend on July 7? It's kind of confusing depending on your job, your wife's job, your children's obligations — as well as the extended family's schedules.

It's time to make Independence Day fall always on the first Monday of July. The reason is simple, conformity and consistency. Folks will be able to plan ahead, even years in advance. Businesses will be able to be in unison in planning deliveries, having everyone on the same page and not blowing up the natural work-week rhythm. As for workers, they will get a guaranteed consistent paid vacation every year, which, in fact, they get five out of every seven years, anyway.

I felt kind of weird on the dock in Sag Harbor on June 30 watching the 4th of July fireworks display. It was half empty, which many people may have thought was wonderful. Other folks are able take the whole 10-day period off and see fireworks many times all over the hamlets. Same with the retired individuals, or the locals, but doing that does become exhausting and takes away the special nature of the holiday, when the whole nation celebrated all on the same day.

In this age of polarization something uniting is not a bad thing. The way things are going it is like we are headed for one Independence Day for every faction, like the parades in New York City. I believe we should have one national holiday for all factions, groups, and political parties but always on a Monday. A Monday to celebrate being an American, our crazy way of life always changing, always striving to get it right with "majority rule all with minority rights." Isn't that what the Declaration of Independence was about? Besides protesting taxes, something so many can still get behind today.

So speak up and comment about this idea. After all, the great thing about this country is we get to eventually make the rules if we truly demand it as a nation. This is something we all can unite behind.

T.J. Clemente is a Patch columnist.