A 4th of July to REMEMBER

Paying respect to the fallen Wolverines, Baghdad

The Fourth of July holiday is full of celebration and ceremony. For many this year it meant a three day weekend filled with backyard barbeques, parades, local festivals, and fireworks. For some it is a more somber celebration.

The celebration of the Fourth of July holiday is to commemorate the signing of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is also a day to honor the brave men and women who have been a part of preserving freedom in the US Armed Forces.

I was born into a family with deep military roots; all of our nation’s military fighting forces, dating back to the Revolutionary War have intertwined throughout my family’s history or through my experience as a military wife and DOD contractor. Listening to my grandfather’s stories of WWII, my dad’s memories of Vietnam, my ex-husband, various uncles, friends, and co-workers discuss their experiences in many conflicts and wars. I thought I had an understanding of what it meant to be a part of fighting to preserve freedom. I was wrong. It wasn’t until I began working for the military as a contractor that I developed a better understanding of the rippling impact of injury and loss.

As a contractor I was one of the final faces a solder saw before boarding their plane for deployment. I was also one of the first faces they came upon when they returned. This position was a unique one. It offered me the opportunity to listen as they talked of their fears, their feelings of honor, their sadness, and their joy of being a part of the current mission. Upon their return I would listen to the vivid stories of battles, experiences with their families from such far distances, and their losses of friends and comrades. On occasion I had the honor of crossing paths with a wounded soldier home from war. Never once did they state regret or remorse for their duty, instead they were filled with more courage and pride for their country than anything I had encountered. On a handful of occasions I never saw a soldier again. They had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Through these experiences I have grown to see days, such as the Fourth of July, as something more. Holidays such as this aren’t a day off from work, an opportunity to grab a drink and a burger with friends, or even to sit in awe under a canopy of fireworks. They are days full of emotion for me. I remember my friend Bo, a US Marine, who was the only survivor in his group of 6, he was in his early 20’s, riddled with bullets, facing countless surgeries, and now is disabled for life. He stood proudly in his dress uniform one beautiful summer afternoon as his brothers were honored, then was pinned with a Purple Heart. I remember Mason; at one time a member of the US Army, an IED explosion took his friend, Spc. Thomas Day Caughman, who was fighting by his side. Mason’s injuries healed, but he never regained hearing in one ear. I had the honor of attending Mason’s Purple Heart ceremony and his separation ceremony. I also supported him as he volunteered to join the USMC just months later. Mason is currently on ship, returning home from his 3rd tour in the Middle East. I think of the newest member of our family, Andrew, who married my cousin K2 just days before leaving on deployment for the USMC. Finally, this weekend I remember my cousin K’s new husband JR, a National Guardsman who, when not deployed is a law enforcement officer and local fireman. He left for a tour with his National Guard unit just months after their wedding. Early this week, on Monday, June 29, 2009 a Battalion vehicle was hit by an IED. JR’s fellow soldiers did not survive. So, this holiday weekend, my thoughts reach beyond a deep appreciation for all that our servicemen and women have done to preserve the freedoms that my children and I have today… my thoughts are with the families of Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, 39, of Wilmington, N.C., Sgt Roger L. Adams Jr., 36, of Jacksonville, N.C., Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30, of Newport, N.C., and Spec. Robert L. Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville, N.C. of the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.

 This week, these men have made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may sit curled up on a blanket under the stars, enjoying my family and my friends as we watch in awe the beauty of our freedoms expressed in beautiful firey lights across the sky. It is my hope, that one day no man or woman will lose their life in defense of freedom, as freedom will be prevalent, but until that day I am forever grateful for the men and women who volunteer and sacrifice, who protect the rights of our Nation, and ask for nothing in return. This Fourth of July, I remember and honor them and wholeheartedly thank them for their service. This weekend, as you celebrate and relax, please take a moment to remember as well.

~ by mina75 on July 5, 2009.