The 4^th is the celebration of America declaring its independence from the British, and bringing the Revolutionary War to a close. This day marks what we celebrate as “America’s Birthday” and the beginning of a nation that has one of the longest standing constitutions in the world. In 1870 the US Congress declared the 4^th of July a Federal Holiday, paving the road for our current traditions of observing this holiday.

With the July 4^th holiday weekend approaching, everyone at home is looking forward to some well deserved time off. But as the majority of us are at home, enjoying time with friends and family having a cook out, going to the beach, or doing yard work, there are many service members who celebrate this holiday far from home.

Let us not forget that with out them, and so many like them that are currently serving, and have served in the past, we would not have this holiday to celebrate. It is through their sacrifices and defense of our freedom, that our nation has lived on throughout the years, through good times and bad.

Rest assured that our deployed service members will find their own way to celebrate this holiday that is so important to our nation.

As a US Marine who has spent his fair share of holidays deployed to both combat and non-combat zones, we have always organized unit functions such as cookouts and/or commemorative ceremonies to observe a special day in our culture and history. These events have helped us break up the routine of our deployed lives, boost the morale of the unit, promote camaraderie and unit cohesiveness, as well as give the Marines and Sailors a special meal that may not be available too often.

Support for these events has been available from within our Battalion or higher headquarters and also through the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) representatives that can be found in various deployed locations, to include combat zones.