What does the fourth of July mean to you? I was going through the drive-thru at McDonald's yesterday for a cup of coffee and the cashier asked me if I had plans for the fourth. I just looked at her and she said she had not gotten that response from anyone else. Later on yesterday I got to thinking about what the fourth meant to me. It means, barbeques, beaches, swimming, sun and fun.....No not really! Freedom. We are Americans and we are free to live our lives as we choose. We are free to vote for whom we want to be president. We are free to speak our minds and to disagree if want to. We have freedom of religion. After-all this is why we are in the United States anyway. Our fore-fathers came here to have the freedom to worship the way they wanted to. Michael did his AIT training in Aberdeen, Maryland. We were fortunate enough to see him graduate. While we were in Maryland we took the train into D.C. This was an awesome experience. We saw the Vietnam Wall. I was moved beyond words. I remember running my hand over the names on the wall. When I think of this I also think of the song the Statler Brothers sang, "More Than a Name on a Wall." It goes like this:
I saw her from a distance
As she walked up to the wall
in her hand she held some flowers
as her tears began to fall
and she took out pen and paper'
as to trace her memories
and she looked up to heaven
and the words she said were these...
She said Lord my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
just one more time you see
All I have are the memories
and the moments to recall
So Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall..
She said he really missed the family
and being home on Christmas day
and he died for God and Country
in a place so far away
I remember just a little boy
playing war since he was three
But Lord this time I know,
He's not coming home to me
And she said Lord my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
But I know it just can't be
So I thank you for my memories
and the moments to recall
But Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall..
Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall..
This is what the fourth of July means to me. When we were at the wall I looked for a name I remembered as a little girl. A boy that lived two doors down. His name was Dale and he died in Vietnam. I didn't find his name because there were so many people there and they were doing the same thing as I was and we had a limited amount of time. Someday I would love to go back. I want to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington. Yes, the fourth is more than picnics and fun. It is a time to remember what a great country we live in and how proud we should all be to have the right to live here. I think of 911 when I think of the fourth and what it means to me. Our freedom was compromised that day. But the United States fought back. We are resilient and strong. I am proud to be an American. I am proud of all those who have fought and died for me and my family and friends. The song above is a tear jerker, is it not? But there have been thousands of mothers just like this one who have lost their sons or daughters while fighting for the freedom we enjoy. We live in the greatest country in the world. God Bless America and all it stands for!
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