Fourth of July is an awesome holiday. It is filled with sunshine, cookouts, cold beer, and awesome fireworks. I remember as a kid I just looked forward to some awesome sparklers and cool popsicles. It is a good time for everyone and always a fun celebration. But sometimes, I think that we forget what we are truly honoring when that day comes around.

Yes, your assumption that we are celebrating our country and its freedom is correct; but I feel that it is so much more than that. We are not only celebrating that fact that we live in a free country, but we are remembering and honoring the people that have made sacrifices and are still sacrificing in order to make our freedom possible.

Sometimes I think that our society forgets to thank some of our heroes. We forget about the son that never came home to his parents. The woman that never got her chance to walk down the aisle. The dad that never got to see his newborn baby. We forget about the veteran that can be in places with bright flashes because of their PTSD. We don’t think about the men and women that wake up in the middle of the night from their nightmares from overseas. All of these people have given up something and sacrificed their lives and time to ensure that our country is safe and free.

I wish I could thank them all individually but unfortunately I cannot. If you are reading this and you have served our country, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you know someone that has served this country, I urge you to reach out to them this holiday and to make sure they know that their sacrifice is appreciated. These people at least deserve a thank you for all they have done for this country.

So when you’re out enjoying the sunshine and cold brews, make sure to raise one up to the ladies and gentleman that have given our country the greatest gift of all time, our freedom.