Donald Felt, Command Sgt. Maj. for 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 50, from Pittsburgh, Pa., dresses as "Uncle Sam" as he visits troops at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 4, 2007. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)
From the Boston Globe:
BAGHDAD --Hundreds of U.S. troops marked the Fourth of July by re-enlisting in the military Wednesday while others took oaths of American citizenship in ceremonies at the main U.S. headquarters in Iraq.
A total of 588 troops signed up for another stint, according to a U.S. military statement, while 161 soldiers became naturalized American citizens. The ceremonies took place at Camp Victory, the sprawling American headquarters at the western end of the Iraqi capital.
"No bonus, no matter the size, can adequately compensate you for the contribution each of you has made and continues to make as a custodian of our nation's defenses," the top U.S. commander, Gen. David Petraeus, told the audience.
Visiting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., congratulated the new citizens and spoke of the hardships endured fighting in an unpopular war. McCain, who has backed the war, has watched his presidential campaign suffer as public support for the conflict has waned.
"You know that you who have endured the dangers and deprivations of war so that the worst thing would not befall us, so that America might be secure in our freedom," McCain said. "As you know, the war in which you have fought has divided the American people. But it has divided no American in their admiration for you. We all honor you."
Petraeus dedicated the Independence Day ceremony to the memory of two soldiers who were killed in action before they could be sworn in as citizens.
They were Sgt. Kimel Watt, 21, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a native of Jamaica who was killed June 3 in Baghdad, and Spc. Farid Elazzouzi of Paterson, N.J., who died June 14 in a bombing near Kirkuk. Elazzouzi was born in Morocco.
"Words cannot express the admiration I feel for these two men or the sadness I feel for our nation's loss and their families' sacrifice," Petraeus said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., led the new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dining facilities at U.S. bases around the country were open throughout the day, serving traditional Fourth of July meals of barbecued ribs, barbecued chicken, grilled rib-eye steak, corn on the cob, apple and cherry pie.
At a U.S. base outside Baqouba, Sgt. Jesse Jones, 24, of Olympia, Wash., spent Independence Day taking a shower and getting a haircut. His platoon was on break before heading back to fighting in Baqouba.
"Today I'm just basically relaxing and refitting, getting ready to go back into the city," he said. "As much as I want to be home, I don't regret being here. This is a good place to celebrate the Fourth of July. Not only are we celebrating independence, we're fighting for independence, too."
Our military understand the importance of what they are doing.....do you?
Gateway Pundit has AWESOME pictures of the event.
The President Celebrates Independence Day With West Virginia Air National Guard:
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. Happy 4th of July. I'm thrilled to be here in Martinsburg. This is the fourth Independence Day that I have spent in the great state of West Virginia since I've been your President. (Applause.) I appreciate General Tackett's introduction. Thank you, sir -- you read it just like I wrote it. (Laughter.)
I love coming to your state because it's a state full of decent, hardworking, patriotic Americans. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July than to spend it with some of what we call the Mountain State's bravest and most dedicated citizens -- the men and women of the West Virginia Air National Guard. (Applause.)
I am proud to stand with the 167th Airlift Wing. (Applause.) I like your slogan: "Mountaineer Pride, Worldwide." (Applause.) I'm also honored to be with West Virginia's great military families. Some of you have loved ones deployed overseas this 4th of July. I know that. And I know it may be hard to enjoy the fireworks and the picnics and the other celebrations while they're away on dangerous duty in a faraway land. And so I've come today to express our affection -- the affection of the United States of America for the military families who stand strong in the face of the difficult struggle we face to secure the United States of America. We're blessed to have our military families in the United States and I'm blessed to be here with you. Thanks for letting me come by. (Applause.)
Speaking about Laura -- speaking about families, Laura sends her love. She would be with me, but I told her to fire up the grill. (Laughter.) Don't tell her I said that. (Laughter.) I thank Brigadier General Terry Butler, Commander, West Virginia Air National Guard, and his wife, Susan. I want to thank Eric Vollmecke, he's the 167th Wing Commander, and his wife, Sigrid.
I appreciate being here today with a really fine United States Congresswoman, Shelly Moore Capito, and her husband, Charlie. (Applause.) You don't have to worry about her supporting the military. When we've got somebody in harm's way, she understands what I understand: that that military person and his or her family deserve the very strongest support from the federal government at all times. (Applause.)
I enjoyed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with some of the children from our military families. I thought they handled their task quite well. I appreciate Major Dave Reynolds, Chaplain, for giving the blessing. I thank the 249th Army Band of the West Virginia Army National Guard for playing here today. (Applause.)
But most importantly, thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here. The 4th of July is a day for celebration and a day for gratitude. Across America, our citizens are going to come together for parades and pyrotechnic displays, and readings from our Declaration of Independence. It's a grand celebration. It's a great day to be an American.
And when we carry on these festivities, it's important you know we're carrying on a grand tradition. This isn't the first time our country has celebrated the 4th of July. As a matter of fact, I would like to read a couple of paragraphs from a 1777 newspaper. And here's what it said on the first anniversary of the Declaration, as it described the scene in Philadelphia:
"The 4th of July was celebrated with joy and festivity, fine performances, a number of toasts, followed by a discharge of artillery and small arms" -- don't do that today. (Laughter.) "And at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks and the city was beautifully illuminated." This newspaper article from Philadelphia in 1777 went on to say: "Thus may that glorious and memorable day be celebrated through America by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more." We're still celebrating, and rightly so.
Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a war -- a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for six more years before America finally secured her freedom. More than two decades [sic] later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way -- but at the time, America's victory was far from certain. In other words, when we celebrated the first 4th of July celebration, our struggle for independence was far from certain. Citizens had to struggle for six more years to finally determine the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
Go read the whole thing.
Others Celebrating the 4th in style:
The Right Wing Nut House is "LIVEBLOGGING THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS - JULY 3, 1776"
Riehl World View "Independence Day: The Reality Is Greater And Perhaps More Relevant Than The Myth".
Opinion Journal with "'Wonderfully Spared'".
Captain's Quarters with "The Fallacy Of The Oasis".
Debbie at Right Truth has more of a roundup what is happening Today.
Of course the only ones not capable of celebrating this great day are, of course, LIBERALS!!!!
Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone, at least those capable of actual enjoyment, and remember what this day means.
Celebrate it because this is what America is about.
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