It's a beautiful day at the pool, and the sun is high shining its rays with endless force leaving a residue of stickiness along your body. The sky is the perfect shade of blue, the one where there is no cloud in the sky and reminds us of the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico. Droplets of sweat slide down your face as you lay back enjoying a slight breeze blowing by to give relief from the stifling heat, with eyes covered from your sunglasses you can hear the voices of those who are also at the pool discussing something yet they are too far away. The birds sing their song as the laughter of children is ever present with the splashes of water following shortly behind, a smile forms on your face as memories of your childhood fill your mind with days like this where they are being spent by the pool with your friends and family.

The day goes on with moments spent in the pool after finally giving into the heat and a lunch break, that including the delicious fruits and traditional PB&J sandwiches with a few potato chips too. The sun is dancing its dance with the moon and the sky begins to to turn different shades of blue even a little bit of purples or maybe pink. You load the car heading home with the crisp air blowing on you as the world passes you by, you see your home pull into view and everyone gets out of the car to head inside; the kids run upstairs yelling "I'm taking a shower!" with a few shoves from their siblings fighting over who is going to take the bathroom first. You put all the pool items away as your spouse starts getting the food out for that big grill dinner you have been planning for the last week, they tell you to turn on the grill as they go get changed out of those wet bathing suits into something more comfortable. You turn the television on where the headline "Happy Fourth of July" is broadcasted full stream, its been that way for about week with specials of where you spend your holiday and where the best places to eat are. You and your spouse prepare for dinner as the sun is setting, the steak and chicken is cooking on the grill while the potatoes and greens are being cooked in the kitchen; as you begin to set the table the pitter patter of feet can be heard as your children head down. The aroma in the house smells of garlic from the greens and potatoes while also the smell of lemon that is glazed over the chicken. As you sit around the table you can't help but smile seeing your family all together safe and sound.

The sun has set and the once blue sky has now turned dark with only the stars and moon giving light, you sit on your porch with your children at your feet looking high in sky waiting for the show to begin. You hear the first boom and look up to see an explosion of red and blue filling the sky in a circle, the fireworks continue to come one after another filling the sky with endless colors with cheers from the neighbors far and between. You lay your head against the rocking chair and close your eyes with a smile pressed on your face.

But you open your eyes and see that you are far from home, it was all just a dream. Instead of the dark sky with fireworks there is the ceiling of your room with beds to your right and a wall to your left, there is no swimming pool or firework show outside instead there is the dry heat and barren landscape. Your family is thousands of miles away from you and all you have to communicate with them is a cellphone or laptop computer; the men and women you serve with are the ones you call your family while away. You give a small smile and whisper "Happy Fourth of July" in hopes that your loved ones can miraculous hear you.

Don't forget the real reason for the Fourth of July, America is the home of the free because of the brave.

Thank you to all those armed forces fighting for our freedom.