County Residents Salute Flag and 4th : Holiday: Patriotic celebrations include Reagan library events, picnics and fireworks.

Donning a red, white and blue tuxedo and a top hat, Chuck Sackett played the part of Uncle Sam to perfection Sunday, hugging children and posing for snapshots at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s Fourth of July celebration near Simi Valley.

The 64-year-old Westlake Village resident, who sported the finely trimmed white beard he grew specially for the occasion, said he has learned to appreciate the role, which he was playing for the second year in a row.

“It’s a great honor to play Uncle Sam,” Sackett said. “We have to recognize the importance of our country. You’ll do that when you go to other countries and see how those people live.”

Sackett was one of nearly 70 people who converged on the presidential library to celebrate the holiday, listen to patriotic music and learn more about America’s independence from Britain in 1776.

Across east Ventura County, residents were out enjoying the holiday and taking in the balmy weather. Some took time out to swim in neighborhood pools while others gathered at public parks with family for barbecues and picnics.

Others participated in morning nature walks, listened to a concert at Conejo Community Park in Thousand Oaks and attended fireworks shows scheduled Sunday night in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and elsewhere throughout the county.

The celebration at the Reagan library began with a flag-raising by the Port Hueneme Color Guard. Schoolchildren from the Aspen Elementary School All-American Chorus in Thousand Oaks sang, a teacher offered lessons about past Presidents, and an ensemble called the Pipe Band performed.

Peter Small, a U.S. history teacher from Anaheim, tried to make the lessons come alive by dressing up as various Presidents--including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt--and reading some of their best-known speeches.

Although most people still have patriotism in their hearts, said 72-year-old songwriter Johnny Rotella, it’s not as important to them as it was when he was younger.

“I remember a time when on every holiday, the streets were filled with flags and people really celebrated our independence,” said Rotella, a Van Nuys resident who wrote a song in the 1970s called “Every Day Is Flag Day,” which was played during Sunday’s festivities. “But now you don’t see that as much.”

Simi Valley resident Darlene Pelton, who also attended the library festivities, said the Fourth of July should be a time to celebrate the country’s good fortune.

“When you reflect on it, this really is a good country,” Pelton said.

Walt Warren, 78, of Simi Valley, said Americans need to celebrate the Fourth of July more openly.

“A majority of people do appreciate our independence, but don’t show it,” said Warren, a World War II veteran. “It’s a great day for me.”

For others like Ron Snodgrass, who took advantage of the discounted admission price at the Thousand Oaks High School swimming pool, the Fourth was a day to relax and spend time with the family.

“It’s a time to celebrate, watch fireworks in Thousand Oaks and get a day off from work,” said the Ventura resident. “We just make an all-day thing out of it.”

Many attended the discounted swimming events at Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park high schools. Youngsters and adults alike participated in water baseball, polo and various diving and relay contests.

At Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks, Rania Khzam, 20, was having a blast celebrating her younger brother’s birthday party with 25 family members. But she still took time to give thanks for freedom.

“The United States is a free country for all people,” said Khzam, a Thousand Oaks resident of Lebanese descent. “Everyone is not able to celebrate that freedom in other countries. We have to be thankful.”

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