I love the 4th of July. I always have. I love singing patriotic songs, even though they make me cry. I love the parade, crazy as it is. I love seeing the sky full of hot air balloons. I love a huge fireworks show, although I think do-it-yourself fireworks are lame.
We weren't able to do much to be super festive this year, the baby is too little and I'm still recovering, but we had a fun afternoon at a picnic with cousins.
Later that evening I stood in my driveway with my husband and watched as two Apache helicopters slowly made their way through the sky. I guess they had flown over some Independence Day event and were heading back. I thought they were kind of cool to see and then my husband quietly said, "I love that sound. It brings a huge sense of relief." For him the sound of an approaching Apache means help is on the way. It means air support is coming to blast the bad guys.
It brought to mind again what he as personally been through in the name of Freedom. He has been shot at, had his truck hit with a rocket propelled grenade--while he was IN it, and even lost a friend in battle.
To be honest, I think the 4th of July is kind of hard for him since coming home. It affects him in ways that I can never understand.
I am grateful for the men and women in uniform who have fought for us.
I am even more grateful for MY man and everything he been through, the sacrifices he has made for our country and the daily sacrifices he continues to make for me and our family.
6 comments:
Well said Sarah! Tell Mike we are thankful for the service he has given to this great country.
Wow. This is the most I have heard about what happened during the time he was deployed...and this is only a tiny glimpse. Thanks for writing this.
Make sure and tell your husband how much we appreciate his service and every other person that is defending our freedom every day.
Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing these tender memories and helping me to take a deeper look at the freedoms I enjoy and why that is so. Thank you!
The fourth of July has always had religious significance for me. The freedoms that we enjoy had their beginnings in the war in heaven. Those who have and continue to defend those freedoms are part of the great plan of our Heavenly Father. David O. McKay said, "We have to defend the right of nations to be free to hear and accept the gospel." Wasn't it through the LDS Military that the gospel came to Korea? Thanks Mike and all the others who are sacrificing for the freedoms of mankind.
Sarah, very well written, thank you! I understand the sentiments exactly. There are so many of us who have the priveledge of understanding a little deeper of the sacrifices men and women have made in the name of freedom. Since the men have returned, there has not been a time when the Star Spangled Banner did not bring tears to my eyes. Thank you to you, and your family, for every sacrifice you have made for this great country.
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