Freedom, Fireworks, and Front Porches
By: J. David Chapman, PhD, / July 3, 2026
Every Fourth of July, our tradition begins the same way, on the rooftop of The Chapman House in downtown Edmond. With the stars and stripes fluttering above, the LibertyFest Parade rolling below, and crowds lining the streets in celebration, it is a moment that always gives me pause.
From there, we head to Grand Lake, where the celebration continues. Friends and family gather on the water, stories are shared, and the lake comes alive with the energy of summer. As evening falls, it is grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, campfires, and the familiar hum of golf carts making their way toward a favorite viewing spot as fireworks light up the sky over Monkey Island and reflect across the water.
It is a full day, and a powerful reminder of what freedom feels like.
For me, Independence Day has always been about more than fireworks. It is about opportunity. It is about the front porch as much as the flag. It is about the freedom not only to speak and believe, but to build a life, own a home, start a business, and gather with neighbors and friends.
The American dream is lived out in ordinary places. It happens in backyards where burgers are grilled, on sidewalks where children ride bicycles, on rooftops where families watch parades, and on docks where generations gather to celebrate together.
These freedoms did not come easily, and they should never be taken for granted. The rights we enjoy today were secured through sacrifice and preserved through generations of citizens who understood that liberty requires both gratitude and responsibility.
Those of us involved in real estate see this every day. Property ownership has long been one of the foundations of personal freedom. Whether helping a family purchase its first home, revitalizing a downtown block, or protecting private property rights, we participate in one of the most visible expressions of the American dream.
People around the world continue to invest in the United States because they recognize something we sometimes overlook: the freedom to own property, choose where you live, build something of value, and pass it on to the next generation remains one of the greatest forms of liberty.
So this Fourth of July, somewhere between the parade and the fireworks, take a moment on your front porch, your deck, or your dock. Look around and appreciate what you have built, the community you are part of, and the many sacrifices that made it all possible.
Freedom is not just something we celebrate once a year. It is something we live every day.
J. David Chapman, Ph.D., is chair of the Department of Finance and professor of real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma.