A young boy standing on a parade float during a Fourth of July celebration in Vale, Oregon, in 1941. Wearing a patriotic outfit and holding an American flag, he represents the way national holidays were marked in small towns across the country. At the time, the United States had not yet entered World War II, but public displays of patriotism were already common and meaningful. Scenes like this were less about spectacle and more about community, with local families turning out to celebrate the country and pass those traditions on to the next generation.