Old Glory

Oh say can you see, by the dawns early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Do you want to know what my all time favorite holiday forever and always is? The fourth of July. Why? Well there are several reasons. I love fireworks. I love summer and July is when summer is finally in full swing. It is also the holiday with what I think is the perfect balance of family and friends. You wake up, go to a neighborhood breakfast or parade, you do some fun things with the fam, you meet up with your friends and go to concerts and fireworks and you go home happy.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

More so than all of this though, the sense of community is incomparable. At no other time is everyone so united than what this day brings in common for everyone; the many, priceless freedoms that were fought for by the founders of this country.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Given our history, we (Americans) have not always been on the best of terms with our fellow man. Prejudices and wars among other things continue to provide a constant threat to what has become the power of America and yet on the fourth of July, we all gather regardless of what nationality you are or what denomination you follow, as one people; Americans. Whether your American is hyphenated with something else, we all have that one part that brings us together. This one day, every year, we all have the greater good in mind and gratitude in our hearts. That we are all here because we have a rich history that allows privileges and freedoms we take for granted and casually practice every single day.

O say does that star spangled banner yet wave

This year, my family had the amazing experience to go to Washington DC and celebrate there in true American fashion complete with a concert at the National Mall and fireworks lighting up the Washington Monument. Everyone around is sharing what they have, conversing with complete strangers in a most cordial manner and overall there is just a feeling of peace and unity. There is something magical about the moment the fireworks are going off, the National Anthem is being sung and everyone is standing, not as individuals with personal conquests and agendas, but as a nation that will never forget those brave men and women who fought for people they would never meet. That we will never forget what was given and given up to make the country that we live in today. I get chills every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner coming to close, listening to the profound words,

O'er the land of the free
and the home of the


Brave.