4th of July Memories

The 4th of July is a fun holiday where you can act silly and be a kid in the midst of a carnival-like atmosphere. Celebrations include the City of Aurora's Independence Day Fireworks Display, given that it is a sight to behold with many people visiting from all over to celebrate together as one. People enjoy the many food vendors including ice cream and hotdogs, the numerous activities including face painting and crafts, and the live music including the Patriotic Concert. The atmosphere is really colorful at the City of Aurora's Independence Day Fireworks Display. However even more vivid are 4th of July memories coloring some special moments with my own family.

Family brings people together on holidays like the 4th of July instead of commercialized values patented in stores. It is family that gives me the spirit to cross many time zones and countries in order to return home to Aurora, IL, after serving my first duty station in Seoul, Korea, for a year. Yet I almost forgot the plane ticket in my excitement to return home. It is a good thing the cab driver was also in high spirits that day, for he kindly drove me back to the barracks so I could frantically search my room for that ticket. In short the kindness of one person reaches many. If it wasn't for another person's kindness, I wouldn't have been able to visit with my family on the 4th of July.

Families clearly enrich holidays and their memories tenfold, along with time zones lengthening this particular 4th of July by twelve hours via the time difference from South Korea to Aurora, IL. In other words by the time the sun set in South Korea on the 4th, the festivities were only just beginning within the City of Aurora's Independence Day Fireworks Display. Food was being eaten as fast as it was served, kids were playing, and fireworks were in the near future. I was thoroughly enjoying just being with my family after spending an entire year in another country. We ate, sat, and conquered.

After walking around and enjoying the festivities for a few hours, my family decides to pop a squat near the stage where the live music was playing. Unbeknown to me, my mother had spoken to the announcer to congratulate me publicly upon my safe return from Seoul, Korea. Next thing I know, my mom is coaxing me to stand up because my name is being spoken over the speakers via the stage announcer. I am being honored and applauded for serving my country. It is a great feeling when people applaud you, especially on one of the biggest holidays of the year. I will not forget that.

Now I am a veteran, but I am still a big kid at heart. Case in point I will go and witness the fireworks this year at the City of Aurora's Independence Day Fireworks Display. The 4th of July has a magic all its own, as the fireworks, the food, and the people coming together symbolizes more than the colorful fiery explosions in the evening sky. Independence Day is about coming together as a people when we open our hearts, our ears, and our minds. It is then we become our own fireworks.