Happy Independence Day

Rotte

Rotte

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Aug 30, 2008
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Definitely my favorite holiday.

Here's wishing everyone a happy Independence Day. Hope you all take a moment to give thanks for those who made our celebration possible.

I'm proud to count several who fought for my liberty among my ancestors. (One who died of disease at Valley Forge.) So this day has special meaning for me, as it does for so many of us.

I also hope you take a moment to consider what your liberty is worth to you, and what you will do to preserve it.

Happy 4th!
 
Indeed. My favorite too. Also, yesterday was the anniversary of the last day of the battle of Gettysburg....somber days indeed. Celebrate today and never forget the past! It defines us.
 
Happy birthday, America, and happy Independence Day for all! It was a long, hard bitter struggle for those Founding Fathers and those who fought alongside them to gain that independence, and thank goodness for their willingness to persevere and sacrifice and suffer. And thank you to all who have served in the past, who serve now and who will serve in the future. Without us this country would not be what it is today.
 
My favorite as well, although this one is tinged with sadness. Our plan had been to meet at my wife's grandfather's house for dinner. However on my way home from a photo-shoot yesterday I got word that he had passed away while walking to a neighbor's house. His heart failed as he made his way down the walk and he collapsed in his own yard. Fred was a WWII veteran who saw the liberation of Paris and who was blown out of not one but two tanks and still continued to fight. He was awarded, among other things, two purple hearts for his actions while doing his best to help preserve our freedom from tyranny. We had just celebrated his 91st birthday back in May. He was the last WWII veteran that I personally knew and will be sorely missed.

So yes, happy Independence Day indeed! 'Tis a very special day that many fought and died to bring about, many more have fought and died preserving, and yet many more are away from their loved ones on this very day at this very minute for the same reason. They sweat in deserts, watch from mountains, live in forests and jungles, sail on...and under...foreign seas, and keep vigil in far away air spaces, all for the purpose of preserving our liberty and ensuring that this day is still celebrated by generations to come. So yes let us celebrate this very special day with all of the passion it deserves. Today I raise my glass to Fred, and all who have, are, and will take up the uniform and arms to preserve our liberty and our right to celebrate this day and what it stands for. Here's to the health of each and every one of you! Thank you for all that you do and have done!
 
Mist,

Sorry for your loss. I'll join you in raising a glass to Fred and those other veterans of the Second World War who gave so much in defense of our freedom. Thanks for sharing his story.
 
Mist, I am truley sorry of your and our loss, as another of our WWII heroes find peace.

Have a happy a 4TH of July and celebrate his memory as we celebrate the Birth of our country in which he protected.
 
Rotte said:
Mist,

Sorry for your loss. I'll join you in raising a glass to Fred and those other veterans of the Second World War who gave so much in defense of our freedom. Thanks for sharing his story.
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Thanks bro, I appreciate that. We new it would come soon... but that doesn't make it any less saddening to me. Even after all he had seen he always had a smile on his face when we got there. His eyes would always light up when ever he saw his grand daughters and our daughter Alayna, his first great grand daughter. I am going to miss that most I think. This is poor Alayna's first experience with death. If she actually understood there would be tears rolling down her cheeks right now...as it is, they roll down mine for her.
 
tonym said:
Mist, I am truley sorry of your and our loss, as another of our WWII heroes find peace.

Have a happy a 4TH of July and celebrate his memory as we celebrate the Birth of our country in which he protected.
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Thanks Tony, that's what I'm thinking. I think he'd rather we celebrate the life he fought to protect than mourn his loss on this day. And that's what I intend to do.
 
My heartfelt condolences, Mist. It's a sad personal loss for you and your family, and a sad day for all when we lose one of the few remaining veterans of that war.

My thanks go out to all who have helped make our country the greatest nation on earth.

Happy 4th of July to all!
 
Sorry to hear that, Mist. Hope you enjoy your 4th :thumbup:

And happy 4th to everyone else, too.
 
Thanks guys, I think it would be an insult to his memory not to celebrate this day.
 
My condolences as well Mist; those were some of the greatest men and women of our generation and losing them is paramount to losing a part of our national treasure!

I've spent my fair share of July 4th's in harm’s way and had to personally send a young man home last year who was killed in Afghanistan. The conflicts of present and past can be debated by politicians, but the warriors who have and continue to fight those wars do so in the name of freedom...both for ours and those of the oppressed. Freedom is never free and some of the best young men and women continue to bleed and die while serving this great Nation. My eternal gratitude to those I serve with and to those who have served this Nation in the past; even more so is my thanks for all the Americans who still keep service men/women in the their prayers and volunteer their time and resources to those serving in Iraq/Afghanistan. For those troopers in the "foxhole", the mission may not be too clear, but knowing we serve such a great, generous and gracious number of Americans back home makes it clear as to the importance of keeping those here at home as safe as possible.

God bless and I hope you all have a great day of celebrating our Freedom!

ROCK6
 
Myst, my condolences. Today is definitely a good day to remember him and what he stood for.

Everybody, may you enjoy your 4th of July.
 
ROCK6 said:
My condolences as well Mist; those were some of the greatest men and women of our generation and losing them is paramount to losing a part of our national treasure!

I've spent my fair share of July 4th's in harm’s way and had to personally send a young man home last year who was killed in Afghanistan....

God bless and I hope you all have a great day of celebrating our Freedom!

ROCK6
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I agree, I spent hours in my youth hanging out with my grandfather, and friends who were WWII veterans listening their stories. Now they have all gone on to the next plane of existence and I miss them all terribly. They had a perspective on life that few in my generation... and even fewer of the younger generation have.

We appreciate the sacrifices you have made my friend, and you have my sympathy for I can only imagine the emotions involved with that.


Preacher Man said:
Myst, my condolences. Today is definitely a good day to remember him and what he stood for.

Everybody, may you enjoy your 4th of July.
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My thoughts exactly.
 
May God bless America, and all those who have sacrificed so much to defend her.
 
Happy Independence Day everyone.

Mist, my condolences. I recently spent a few hours with a WWII Pacific veteran and it was great to hear his stories.
 
Booze, rustic outside cooking, companionship and large amounts of low explosives, the bravery and sacrifice of a few that overcame the masses for the sake of freedom... how can anyone dislike the idea of Independance Day? As excited as I am about having to use Tums for the first time in almost three years, it also makes me wonder what will become of our country in future years? Escalating government control is undeniable... at what point does your celebration turn from elation of freedom to acknowledgement of sacrificed freedoms for convenience and political acceptance? I'm about 8 beers down so I'm wearing my heart on a sleeve, but that's what I'm considering at this point...
 
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