In a letter to his wife, Abigail, from July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote of his idealized vision for future celebrations of American independence: “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Now two hundred and fifty years deep into the American experiment, his wish has become a reality, as all the hallmarks of his proposed ritual ring forth for a monumental birthday bash in New York City.Photograph by Kent Andreasen / KintzingGames and sports lead the festivities. If baseball is the American pastime, there may be no better place to spend the Fourth of July than at Yankee Stadium, where the Bronx Bombers play the Minnesota Twins, led by the