Families United July 4th Newsletter

July 3, 2009

Letter From Blue Star Daughter - What July 4th Means To Me

By Katie Glenn, Age 20, Military Family Fellow for Families United

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are the things 13 colonies decided to go to war for against the most powerful nation in the world. These three ideas are what this country has gone to war for in Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq and Afghanistan. American troops fight to protect these rights for American citizens, but if they happen to give them to citizens of foreign countries they feel their duty has been served. This Fourth of July is the 233rd Independence Day America has had the privilege to experience. It is the second 4th of July I have experienced without my Dad.

My dad is currently serving in Baghdad protecting Americans from Islamic extremists, but he is also meeting the people of Iraq who believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He is talking to, and influencing, the people who will lead Iraq in the coming years. Fourth of July without my dad is strange, because to me, my dad IS the Fourth of July. I see independence in the tall, broad shouldered, straight backed man wearing a desert combat uniform and boots. I see independence in the man who automatically stands at attention to the Star Spangled Banner. I see independence in the man who proudly marched onto a plane and went to a foreign country for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But it is not just these moments that remind me of Fourth of July when it comes to my dad. It is sharing an ice cream cone we snuck out to have, just the two of us one hot summer afternoon. It's having him turn the hose on me while my sister and I wash the car with him. It's being lifted on to his shoulders when I was 6 to watch the fireworks display at an Army base proudly celebrating the country it fights for. It is these moments that my dad fights for when he fights for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Fourth of July is fireworks, hot dogs, and sweltering heat. It's the Star Spangled Banner, American flags on front porches, and parades. Fourth of July is my dad, in every moment of every day.

Happy Independence Day - A Message from Families United

This Saturday, Americans will celebrate the 233rd anniversary of one of the most revolutionary documents of all time. Proposed by Richard Henry Lee and written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence is the birth certificate of the United States. When our Founding Fathers from the original thirteen colonies dissolved their relationship with Great Britain to become a free and independent country, they gave us the greatest birthday present possible—liberty.
The Fourth of July is a day of picnics and parades, barbeques and fireworks. But as we celebrate this day with loved ones and reflect on the history of our great nation, we remember that the freedoms we all enjoy are not free. Thomas Jefferson once said, "the price of Liberty is eternal vigilance." The words of Jefferson are as true today as they ever were.

Our brave men and women of the Armed Forces serve their country courageously to ensure that we enjoy that liberty every day. Independence Day is not just a celebration of the birth of our great nation; it’s an international symbol of freedom to our friends and our foes. As we enjoy barbeque, fireworks and other traditions this weekend, we hope you’ll join us in extending a special “Thank you” to each and every one of our service members who protect our freedom and independence, day in and day out. And, just as importantly, to the families that serve and sacrifice along with them in their selfless dedication to this great nation.

Introducing Military Kids' Blog

The life of a military child is full of joys and challenges. It is a life that only other military children understand. That is why Families United recently started a Military Kids’ Blog on our website. This blog (militarykidsblog.com) is a place for military kids young and old to discuss their experiences. From the impact of frequent moves to the emotional goodbye of a deployed parent, this blog will serve as a forum to discuss how military life shaped who they are. It would be a way for kids from all branches of the service, with parents who are enlisted and commissioned, to come together and realize they’re not that different and they’re not alone.

If you are military child and want to submit your thoughts or comment on another posting click here.

Volunteering For Our Troops

If you are interested in volunteering for events in your area to support America’s troops and their families, please visit our website. To see a complete list of events, click here

If you have any questions or want to post your event on www.FamiliesUnitedMission.com please email us at Info@FamiliesUnitedMission.com