Independence Day not July 4th holiday

[Just Cliff]

My Daughter said something to me the other day that has been in the back of my mind. She is in the Army, not long back from the Middle East. She came to visit Saturday and left going back to Ft. Lee (an hour and a half away) on Sunday,July 4th. She was going back to see the fireworks and spend time with buddies. She always calls before she goes to sleep. She said the fireworks were great but “you could here some guys freaking out here and there”. “Ya know PTSD”.
Never really thought too much about it, fireworks on post, but I guess it may tend to set some people off.
Of course. That made me really think about fireworks. I didn't see any this year because of work but I have many friends that did go somewhere to see them.
I wonder how many people have really thought about what they symbolize. They commemorate a battle that happened long ago. Men fighting to the death for a cause knowing that they may never know if it was won or lost. Willing to give there life so that maybe, this idea of freedom just might take off. The smoke, thunderous booming from cannon on both sides, flashes of light that let you know where the enemy was, just for a split second and death all around.
There was little food and alcohol if any. The get together with friends was behind cover so you didn't get shot or worse a cannon ball.
There was no time to reflect,just time to fight and live and win and just maybe get home to your family.

Present day. There are BBQs, parties, large amounts of eating drinking and falling down all while watching the fireworks. Little or no time is spent thinking about what the fireworks really stand for. The men that gave their lives so that we could be a free nation. They should be a reminder every Independence Day to renew you Pledge to this country and what it is supposed to be, what was fought for, what was died for. When was the last time you said the Pledge of Allegiance or sang the National Anthem before or during a fireworks display? Maybe next year, if we are still free to do so, give a bit of respect to those long dead soldiers that made Independence Day possible.

Whether you believe our troops should be in the Middle East or not, please show your support. In a blink of an eye they could once again be fighting on our own soil for our independence.

Go 54th.

[farmmom]

Thank you! All too often we focus on the fun to be had and forget the real reason for celebrating. These brave men and women have given their lives, limbs, mental wellbeing to protect us and our freedoms. How little gratitude we tend to show them. Thank God for our troops!!

[Tricky Grama]

Thanks for your post.
I think one of the reasons I get teary-eyed during 4th celebrations is for that very reason. That & I KNOW I could NEVER be that brave. I'd try, I think, but not so sure I could be so brave.

[Ernie]

Independence Day doesn't mean a lot to me.

Memorial Day does. I always take Veteran's Day off to go celebrate my favorite veteran (me) and treat him to a day of fishing or goofing off.

And I weep like a little girl whenever I hear a lone bugler playing Taps.

[foaly]

I agree with Ernie. I think Independence Day is now just a marketing tool for business owners to make money.

My beef with Veterans' Day is this.....Since I am a veteran of the US Navy, how come I don't get Veterans' Day off as a paid holiday while the whole federal govt. gets to take off that day, the majority of employees who never served a day in their life in the military? Typical.

As a member of the DAR, I frequently have the opportunity to share what Independence Day used to mean, what our ancestors fought for and died for. There is some patriotism left in this country. Not much, but some.

I would like to thank the following men and their families for their service during the Revolutionary War: William Haynie, John Shoots, Martin Bash, Jabez Murray Tipton, George Seldonridge, Jacob Blessing, Jacobus Edsall, John Tipton, and Thomas Mitchell. All these men are my direct ancestors and all served either in the military or as colonial officials during the War for Independence from England. I am saddened to think that their efforts (along with the efforts of thousands of others) was all a waste.

[Cornhusker]

I think more about Independence Day now than I used to.
We are in very real danger of having our liberty stolen from us, and it's probably our own fault for taking it for granted.
Now we have people running this country who have no love for it and who would prefer to see America in ruins.
Enjoy it while you can, because if we continue to elect morally bankrupt criminals, we'll never know Liberty again.

[MoonRiver]

To me, the 4th of July is about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation. I don't view Independence Day as a celebration of war or veterans, but as our national celebration of freedom.

We have memorial Day and Veterans Day to commemorate those who have served in the military and I choose to celebrate and remember our heroes on those holidays, not on July 4th.

[Ernie]

It's the American way to destroy an ideal and then set aside one day a year where we can pretend to still honor it.

Mother's day in a nation that has killed over 50 million unborn babies.
Father's day in a nation with a greater than 50% divorce rate.
Independence Day in a nation that houses more prisoners than Iran and has more laws on the books than the Soviet Union did.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Ernie

Independence Day doesn't mean a lot to me.

Memorial Day does. I always take Veteran's Day off to go celebrate my favorite veteran (me) and treat him to a day of fishing or goofing off.

And I weep like a little girl whenever I hear a lone bugler playing Taps.

I make sure to go to the VFW on Veterans Day. Invariably an old Jarhead (term used with the utmost respect) will come in, say "God bless the United States Marine Corps", and buy a round of crown royal. not to be outdone, a Swabby will holler "God bless the United States Navy", and buy another round of shots.

By the time we get through the Coast Guard, I'm half in the bag and usually end up buying a round myself.

[Aintlifegrand]

Originally Posted by tinknal

I make sure to go to the VFW on Veterans Day. Invariably an old Jarhead (term used with the utmost respect) will come in, say "God bless the United States Marine Corps", and buy a round of crown royal. not to be outdone, a Swabby will holler "God bless the United States Navy", and buy another round of shots.

By the time we get through the Coast Guard, I'm half in the bag and usually end up buying a round myself.

LOl.. I love this...

I was at a Tea party rally on July 3rd.. the veterans were asked to come forward towards the stage as they always are...seeing the old guys, the middle aged guys and the young guys from all branches all together like that was great... One WWII vet commanded all the vets salute..they all did...Then One of the speakers said that if asked today..each one of those veterans would pick up a weapon and defend this nation yet again... my eyes filled with tears as I remembered my father.. mid 60's just a year or so before he died...telling my mother he needed to get a new set of "fatigues"..just in case they called him back... I laughed then... I cried a bit today.. Now I know that speaker was right... my Dad would have defended this country no matter what even though he had retired almost 30 years ago.

[Nevada]

That's the thing about a free country; we can celebrate holidays any way we like, even if it's different from the way you celebrate.

[naturelover]

That made me really think about fireworks. ....... I wonder how many people have really thought about what they symbolize. They commemorate a battle that happened long ago. Men fighting to the death for a cause knowing that they may never know if it was won or lost.

I've always looked at it a bit differently, that the July 4th celebrations are strictly to celebrate the independence of America from British rule and taxation. It is the celebration of the birth and independence of a country in it's own right, not the celebration of deaths of others.

It's not a celebration of war, as America has almost perpetually been involved in wars and conflicts since July 4th, 1675 with very few years of peacetime in between wars. That's 335 years of ongoing wars and conflicts to this very day. I don't think that wars or the reasons for war is ever something to celebrate with fireworks.

http://americanhistory.about.com/lib...lineuswars.htm

.

[FeralFemale]

At the 4th party I went to this year, a man raised his drink and made a toast to all the men and women serving, who have served, and those who paid the ultimate price. He said that we were here that day because of them and they would want us to be doing this, celebrating, drinking, eating, having fun. That is what they fought and died for.

That really made me think. All those heros not only fought for freedom but also for all of us to be able to live our normal lives and have our picnics and celebrations.

So, it is proper for us to party it up on the 4th even if we don't all take a moment to remember our heros that made it possible. That is what they would want, for our way of life to go on and not have the 4th be some sort of somber day of mourning.

[seedspreader]

he second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more. John Adams (he was two days off when he wrote this)

But... it sounds like my Independence day. We went to the parade on Saturday, had church on Sunday, thanked God for true independence in Christ, had a cookout and went the beach on Monday.

I really enjoyed it.

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by foaly

I agree with Ernie. I think Independence Day is now just a marketing tool for business owners to make money.

My beef with Veterans' Day is this.....Since I am a veteran of the US Navy, how come I don't get Veterans' Day off as a paid holiday while the whole federal govt. gets to take off that day, the majority of employees who never served a day in their life in the military? Typical.

As a member of the DAR, I frequently have the opportunity to share what Independence Day used to mean, what our ancestors fought for and died for. There is some patriotism left in this country. Not much, but some.

I would like to thank the following men and their families for their service during the Revolutionary War: William Haynie, John Shoots, Martin Bash, Jabez Murray Tipton, George Seldonridge, Jacob Blessing, Jacobus Edsall, John Tipton, and Thomas Mitchell. All these men are my direct ancestors and all served either in the military or as colonial officials during the War for Independence from England. I am saddened to think that their efforts (along with the efforts of thousands of others) was all a waste.

My children are SAR and DAR's. My fil did the geneology to prove it on paper. Pretty humbling.
Coming from a long line of family history in the Military:
Great Uncle died on the USS Indianapolis. Marine
Uncle served in Viet Nam. Retired Army after 20 years of service.
Father served in Korea. Army
Uncle served in US Navy.
Cousin served in Desert Storm. Army

Any my oldest daughter was born, on the 4th of July.

We celebrate on July 4th
Celebrate our freedom. celebrate my daughters b-day. celebrate our great countries freedoms.
The 4th of July is one of very few holidays we DO celebrate, because it has meaning to us.
Yes we grill out, yes we have birthday cake. No we do not drink, nor does anyone who comes over, bring alcohol with them (makes our parties boring and not well attended, but their loss....the food is amazing!!)
And yes, we shoot off fireworks.
And we all know why.........


I remember way back when, when Nov 11th WAS a holiday where we got out of school, got the day off work, the mail didn't fly, and the nation remembered.
I also remember when we stopped doing this......and it's sad.

[LaManchaPaul]

Originally Posted by foaly

I agree with Ernie. I think Independence Day is now just a marketing tool for business owners to make money.

My beef with Veterans' Day is this.....Since I am a veteran of the US Navy, how come I don't get Veterans' Day off as a paid holiday while the whole federal govt. gets to take off that day, the majority of employees who never served a day in their life in the military? Typical.

As a member of the DAR, I frequently have the opportunity to share what Independence Day used to mean, what our ancestors fought for and died for. There is some patriotism left in this country. Not much, but some.

I would like to thank the following men and their families for their service during the Revolutionary War: William Haynie, John Shoots, Martin Bash, Jabez Murray Tipton, George Seldonridge, Jacob Blessing, Jacobus Edsall, John Tipton, and Thomas Mitchell. All these men are my direct ancestors and all served either in the military or as colonial officials during the War for Independence from England. I am saddened to think that their efforts (along with the efforts of thousands of others) was all a waste.

How depressing... I WISH THAT I hadn't even opened this thread..... You are DAR and The Fourth of July “doesn’t mean a lot to me” is an outrage. This post is lots worse than those ignoramuses who are clueless in front of a camera as to why we celebrate the Fourth.

HOW is it that you have a beef with a celebrated day when that day has nothing to do with the market-driven company that you work for?

I am saddened that you think that the heroes in your family wasted their efforts and lives. I celebrate their contributions to our great nation. I give to those people genuine thanks. Without what they did, (resulting in our Constitution) we could be under religious rule – and you could be wearing coverings from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet peering out of a net-covered opening.

For you foaly, I wish peace to replace your anger; and the same for me. I yield to you and the other posters your rights to see the Fourth as you wish. For me, I love the United States of America and celebrate us even with our faults and shortcomings. Paul

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

I remember way back when, when Nov 11th WAS a holiday where we got out of school, got the day off work, the mail didn't fly, and the nation remembered.
I also remember when we stopped doing this......and it's sad.

What?!? You don't get Nov. 11th as a statutory holiday? That really surprises me. Is that in all states or just some states? When did you stop doing that and what was the reason?

.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by naturelover

What?!? You don't get Nov. 11th as a statutory holiday? That really surprises me. Is that in all states or just some states? When did you stop doing that and what was the reason?

.

Federal Holiday here, mainly schools, post offices, and banks are closed. Everyone else goes to work.

[Aintlifegrand]

Originally Posted by naturelover

I've always looked at it a bit differently, that the July 4th celebrations are strictly to celebrate the independence of America from British rule and taxation. It is the celebration of the birth and independence of a country in it's own right, not the celebration of deaths of others.

It's not a celebration of war, as America has almost perpetually been involved in wars and conflicts since July 4th, 1675 with very few years of peacetime in between wars. That's 335 years of ongoing wars and conflicts to this very day. I don't think that wars or the reasons for war is ever something to celebrate with fireworks.

http://americanhistory.about.com/lib...lineuswars.htm

.

It is a celebration of liberty and freedom.. so it is natural that we would honor those who make sure we keep freedom and liberty on that day...the American Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Airmen... The 4th is a good day to do that as well as Memorial day for those that have fallen and on Veternas day for those serving or have served... IMO you cannot honor the men and women who ensure our freedom too much.

[Aintlifegrand]

Originally Posted by naturelover

What?!? You don't get Nov. 11th as a statutory holiday? That really surprises me. Is that in all states or just some states? When did you stop doing that and what was the reason?

.

It is a Federal Holiday however, most businesses are open..one company I worked for used it a one of their flex holidays.. they alternated years between Veterans Day and Martin Luther King day