Could someone please move that sign?

#183

I went to a July 4th celebration tonight (yes I know it's the 3rd) and all evening long I waited for them to unfurl this flag so I could get a picture of it.  I had already sweet talked the bouncers (translation boy scouts) at the gate into letting me past the restricted area so I could get a better photo.  I waited and waited and waited and finally gave up because it was dark and they still hadn't unfurled it.  Finally, they rolled out the flag and I ran down to the gate and asked the bouncer (again boy scout) if I could get through.  He apologized and told me he was just instructed not to let anyone through the gate.  So then I asked him if I could sit on his shoulders to get a better picture.  Luckily he had a good sense of humor and knew I was joking.  So I snapped this picture from where I was at.   And as you can see, if someone hadn't placed a HUGE sign in front of it, this would've been an awesome picture!  Seriously, who had the bright idea to have a dramatic scene of 20 soldiers standing on a bridge unfurling a flag, with the moon perfectly placed behind it, and a jet stream of water in front of it, all lit up and beautiful...and then let's go ahead and put a big wooden sign in front of it that would later be lit up with the name of the sponsor for the event.  My heavens, doesn't anyone think about the photographers in the crowd?

In all seriousness, I know that the world does not revolve around me and the pictures I want to take.  But it was a beautiful scene and I am very grateful for this picture that I did get.  We are a patriotic family and I can't think of a better thing to see on the 4th of July (or on the 3rd).