People Tend to Forget

We'll be celebrating the Fourth of July next week Wednesday, and with it will come all the parades, barbecues, gatherings of family and friends and, of course, fireworks.

The Fourth of July was always fun when I was growing up. In Chicago we'd often go downtown to the lakefront and watch the fireworks. There'd be crowds of people all along the water, up and down Michigan Avenue, lounging around in Grant Park, enjoying Buckingham Fountain, and pretty much all over the joint. There were street-vendor hotdogs ("red hots"), magnificent burgers, loads of junk food, and plenty to drink.

It was a good time.

Of course, in the end it was all about the fireworks. After the sun set, we'd watch the sky slowly transform from light blue to black. With a rousing background of live orchestral music to properly introduce the forthcoming display, the first shell was sent ripping through the sky. More followed, each with its distinctive display of colors and patterns. Pretty soon it was an all-out barrage. As the shells blasted off into the sky and burst into brilliant colors, smiles would break over our faces, as we gawked and groaned at the fusillade taking place overhead. In between the blasts of vibrant hues, there was the occasional shell that spun its way into the air and then, with a pregnant pause, would boom louder than the rest. Suddenly, its shock wave would reverberate through our bodies.

For some, those were a little too close to home.

A few years have gone by since those Fourth of July days. Now when I watch those flashes of color and feel the shell's explosive vibrations, I find my thoughts turning to my oldest brother, and to my father. My brother did two tours in Vietnam with the Marine Corps. His military career, like my Dad's time with the Navy in World War II, was one that put him in the thick of it at times, with all the gut-wrenching spectacle that involves. For servicemen and women everywhere, the Fourth of July's "rockets' red glare" carries real meaning. As we enjoy the celebration of our nation's independence, others may recall different times -- harrowing times of terror and uncertainty -- that they would just as soon forget.

Let us remember them as we applaud our nation's independence this Fourth of July and give thanks for the courage of our servicemen and servicewomen throughout the world. If you have a veteran or active military person in your orbit next Wednesday, be sure to let them know their service is appreciated.

Any fond or poignant recollections from the Fourth of July you'd like to pass along? If so, please click here and share your thoughts.