As Fourth of July events are lining up for their finishing touches before the big day, we asked event organizers about what they have done to emphasize the true meaning of the holiday. Their responses were as varied as the communities that they come from, begging the question, what does celebrating America mean in modern times?

We’ll start with the most traditional of events — The Leffingwell House Museum’s fifth annual "Be Revolutionary at the Leffingwell."

On the Fourth, the public will be invited to the historic 1675 house in Norwich to learn about the "Sons of Liberty," re-enact enlisting in the Continental Army with Christopher Leffingwell, and read displayed documents of letters and newspapers from the Revolutionary era detailing what was happening during that time.

For event organizer and museum volunteer Camilla Farlow, tying in local history with the national holiday is a great way to celebrate.

“You get a real feel for the fact that it was a very hard time and that these people didn’t like the laws that were being imposed on them. They were willing to put their lives on the line to fight against a very large country in order to have their own form of government,” Farlow said. “It’s important to remember that, and that this happened right here in Norwich.”

Included in the event will be letters from Norwich native and patriot Christopher Leffingwell, and new this year will be letters, just discovered in the museum’s archives, from a Norwich native who fought in the Continental Army and wrote about the Battle of White Plains.

“These are letters written by people who were from this time and talk about what they saw, what they felt and what was going on,” Farlow said. “It’s very important to share these kinds of things with people on the Fourth of July.”

Parades are also, of course, a typical way to celebrate the holiday.

In the Stonington Borough this year, the annual parade will celebrate more than just history — it will also commemorate the borough’s Portuguese heritage in an effort to not only recognize a significant population that the borough was built upon but also a way to remember the many immigrant cultures that have contributed to what the country is today, said Michael Severs, president of Stonington’s Historical Society and organizer of the parade.

“Historically, the community has always had a Portuguese heritage because of the fishing fleet and from Portuguese family members working in the mills,” said Severs. “Even today, they act as a significant part of our community, and some are still even working in the fishing fleets.”

Celebrating this heritage will be Portuguese-American Henrietta Mello Mayer, a long-time resident of Stonington, who will be leading the parade as the grand marshal before wrapping up the event at Wadawanuck Square for a reading of the Declaration of Independence, featuring multi-generational Portuguese-Americans residents.

“The fabric of Stonington is built on immigrants from the Portuguese community. We have to remember that in the Declaration of Independence, it stated that all people were created equal. That is a part of what this country is built on and precisely what we will be celebrating,” Severs said.

In line with celebrating the country’s multifaceted cultural influences, Groton will celebrate its own diversity along with its military history in its 38th annual Fourth of July Parade.

With its own detailed military history dating back to the Revolutionary War — including the Battle of Groton Heights and the betrayal of Benedict Arnold — Groton has certainly played in its own role during the founding of the United States, a point that parade organizer and Groton Parks and Recreation Services Manager Jerry Lokken has tried to emphasize in the Groton parade.

“Traditionally, the Fourth of July Parade has had a military feel to it because of the Sub Base, the Coast Guard and the Army National Guard located at the Groton-New London Airport,” Lokken said. “We always keep with the tradition of including groups that represent our military community and remember how that has shaped the town.”

Among the 61 groups marching in the parade are various military groups such as Groton’s Fleet Reserve and the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club. Captain Fred Yew and Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine School Captain Aaron Thieme from the Groton New London Submarine Base will also march.

On an historical note, the Yalesville Fife and Drum Corps, as well as the Deep River Drum Corps, will perform along the mile stretch, and, for a hometown flair, several local businesses and Little League teams, among other groups, will also be in the parade.

All of this, Lokken said, will reflect Groton’s military and small-town feel.

Though the parade hasn’t changed much since its inception 38 years ago, it has remained a tradition of sorts for residents and a way to unite the town of Groton.

“Fourth of July is an opportunity for everyone to come together — the old, the young, the poor and the rich,” Lokken said. “If there is any opportunity for the people to come together and celebrate, this certainly is one.”

A sampling of 4th of July events

Friday

Norwich Harbour Fireworks — 9 p.m., Howard Brown Park, 100 Chelsea Harbor Drive., Norwich; rain date Sunday; free; (860) 887-6964.

Sunday

U.S. Coast Guard Band — 2 p.m., Leamy Hall, U.S.Coast Guard Academy, 15 Mohegan Ave., New London; concert celebrating Independence Day; free; (860) 701-6826.

Tuesday

Independence Day Celebration — 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Leffingwell House Museum, 348 Washington St., Norwich; presentation, mock enlistment and displays of original flags and documents; $5; (860) 889-9440.

Independence Day Parade — 10 a.m., Sound View, Hartford Avenue, Old Lyme; sponsored by the Sound View Beach Association; (860) 434-6426.

Stonington Parade — 10 a.m., Wadawanuck Square, Water and High streets, Stonington Borough.

Groton Parade — 10 a.m., Poquonnock Plains Park to the Groton Shopping Center at Drozdyk Drive.