Early in the morning of the 4th of July in our town, city employees will put up hundreds of American flags all along the main streets of the downtown area before most people are awake. It always gives the whole downtown area a celebratory feel. I will, of course, go down to watch the parade with my wife, my daughter, her husband and our granddaughters. But I will do some quieter things during the day too.
For one, I will put on my Vietnam veteran's baseball cap for the day, and I will, sometime during the day, go to the large cemetery in Seattle with its well manicured veterans section, to wander among the regimented stones of all those veterans buried there. For a short half hour or so, I will think about friends I lost in Vietnam so long ago now, and about all those good men and women lying beneath those stones who, at some point in their lives, served the country and helped in their small, or great ways, to keep the dream of this fragile democracy alive and well.
Because I have a love and a respect for history, I see this holiday as more than just a day for fun and relaxation. It is all of that, of course. But for me, it is much more too. Though I worry about the health of the country at times, I am proud of the ideals it has stood for for so long, and of having had the opportunity to serve it in uniform. The 4th of July every year offers us a focused day for sharing some innocent joy and fun with our families and our communities. It is also a day to take a few moments to remember its historical significance. To all my currently serving military, and veteran brothers and sisters, I hope you all have the opportunity to enjoy a great 4th of July.
Thanks for your service. And welcome home.
Don't forget those who are still in harm's way.
Seattle, WA
