American Rain or How Did You Celebrate the 4th

July 9, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Blogroll, Life in the Military

For most American, the 4th of July means BBQ, fireworks, vacation, and long weekends. It’s a time for catching up on “honey-do” lists, relaxing, and shooting bottle rockets at your neighbors. But, for some patriotic Americans, the 4th of July is a time to honor and welcome home troops returning from combat. Paulette is one of those patriots.

I know for myself this 4th of July was different from years past. I usually have my family over for a cookout and we have fireworks. This year though it didn’t happen. I’m not sure why, but it didn’t. I remember grumbling because it just “didn’t seem like the 4th.” It was a little disappointing. Even though I had 3 of my soldiers, my friend John, my kids and my husband with me..it just didn’t seem like the 4th.I’m not sure how I managed to do it, but I overlooked what I had been doing July 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It had slipped my mind that over those three days I had brought home several HUNDRED soldiers from Iraq. I had helped reunite all these families, yet it hadn’t occurred to me. It wasn’t until the night of the 6th that it all hit me. I, along with my other volunteers are standing on the tarmac waiting for a plane to come in. It’s about 10 PM and as clear a night as you could ask for. I can see the lights of the plane..here it comes. As if on cue, just as the planes wheels touch the ground off in the distance, miles away, someone is setting off fireworks. But they hadn’t been until the plane came. What an awesome coincidence!! A plane with 250 plus soldiers coming home from war and fireworks going off in the background. I was in awe.

Read the rest over at Paulette’s Rambling Mind. Please leave her a comment of appreciation.