Patriotic music moves me and fills me with pride to be an American.  There is nothing more moving to me than military service songs.  Every year, the Cornhusker Band performs the Armed Forces Salute during a pregame which recognizes all of the branches of the military.  I have the hardest time not crying, especially as those who serve and have served stand to be recognized. My father was career Air Force and that is where he met my mother.  His brother was a military pilot and my cousin graduated from the Air Force Academy.  I grew up being proud of what my dad and his family did and I was raised to respect the military, the flag and our country.

The 4th of July has always been a time to celebrate the fact that we live in this wonderful country.  Concerts, parades, family get-togethers and fireworks have always been a part of that celebration.  There’s nothing like hearing live music play while sitting outside and watching fireworks.  The best firework display I ever saw was when we lived in Ohio.  The local fire department really wanted the high school band to march in the July 4th  parade, but it’s difficult to get students together in July, especially on a holiday.  So my husband, the band director, was promised we would have primo seats for the fireworks if he could kids to march in the parade.  And primo they were!  We stood with the firemen as they shot off the fireworks and they exploded right over our heads!  There were no fireworks in the sky, the sky WAS fireworks.  It was a little disconcerting to see firemen get excited about blowing things up, but what can you do? : )

Then 9/11 happened.  My oldest son was a senior in high school and spent the day watching the events unfold at school.  He made the decision to serve his country by joining the Army National Guard after high school, where he trained as a communications specialist and then as a paratrooper.  And then he was deployed to Afghanistan.  While he hasn’t shared all of his experiences over there, he returned with hearing issues, knee problems and PTSD.  He has actually retired from the guard, but there are residual affects; when out in public, he needs to be able to see an entrance, and can’t have his back to it.  He has difficulty sleeping and has nightmares.  And, loud noises send him into a panic.  Here we have a young man who patriotically served his country and he has to hide in his apartment from the very fireworks we use to celebrate.  It makes me love fireworks just a bit less because my son can no longer enjoy them.  I am hoping that one day in the future he will learn to enjoy them again.

I certainly don’t want to put a damper on your celebrations, but if you could this year, as you celebrate tonight and tomorrow, please remember our veterans and what they have experienced in order for you to celebrate this holiday.  Happy Independence Day.