When I was a young girl the 4th of July meant going to my Grandmother's house which was on Mount Vernon St. in Prescott, Az. and watching the parade pass as they headed to the center of town and then on to the rodeo.......
I never told my Dad "Thank You for serving our country" and maybe you just have to get old to see the real truth but with all my heart I say Thank You......................
I only attended the fireworks once or twice and basically wasn't very impressed but oh, how I loved the Rodeo.
After I married we still weren't big fireworks goers but did get in the go camping in the cool country group and enjoyed that.
After our daughter has grown and married the 4th of July has become a get together, sit in the pool to stay cool and BBQ which is the plan for the day but my thoughts are on many other things like:
The opening of the Statue of Liberty
and the story my Dad told me of how when he was on the Queen Mary being shipped over seas to go to war and they sailed past her.......he thought he would never see it again. I am grateful to be able to say that he did make it back home from World War II but he was never the same innocent young man he was before. Tucked away in a old metal picnic basket are things from my Dad's war days.
and looking at the dog tags, I remember how he told me the purpose of them was so that if you were killed on the battlefield someone was to jam them into you teeth so that you could be identified. It makes me sad that there is little on the media to really express the meaning of our Independence Day.....sacrifice for freedom. Most of what I see is tidbits of BBQing, what's the best beer, and most of all......Michael Jackson's memorial. A man that never served in the military, enjoyed all that freedom has to offer and self destructed right before our eyes.
and the story my Dad told me of how when he was on the Queen Mary being shipped over seas to go to war and they sailed past her.......he thought he would never see it again. I am grateful to be able to say that he did make it back home from World War II but he was never the same innocent young man he was before. Tucked away in a old metal picnic basket are things from my Dad's war days.
and looking at the dog tags, I remember how he told me the purpose of them was so that if you were killed on the battlefield someone was to jam them into you teeth so that you could be identified. It makes me sad that there is little on the media to really express the meaning of our Independence Day.....sacrifice for freedom. Most of what I see is tidbits of BBQing, what's the best beer, and most of all......Michael Jackson's memorial. A man that never served in the military, enjoyed all that freedom has to offer and self destructed right before our eyes.I never told my Dad "Thank You for serving our country" and maybe you just have to get old to see the real truth but with all my heart I say Thank You......................
5 comments:
Here, I'm reading and caught myself nodding at our parallel histories. Thank you!... for writing what I've felt ... but failed to acknowledge!
This is a wonderful post.
It is sad how Americans have turned all the holidays dedicated to the sacrifice of our veterans (Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, and Independence Day) into an excuse to "go to the lake" or to drink some brews with their buddies.
I am grateful for the sacrifice made so that Old Glory can continue fly and symbolize our freedom.
You are absolutely right - thanks for reminding me.
Beautifully written. Thank you for reminding everyone of how we achieved and maintain this independence and freedom. We owe our troops for their daily sacrifices.
Beautiful post.... My dad was in the Navy during WWII. He honored the military so much and did his best to teach us what an honor it is to have these men and women go out and fight for our freedoms.... When he died we were able to have a seven gun salute for him at his service... My FIL was there and he cried.... So did I, because I knew how he felt...I pray for the freedom of this country...
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