For the past 32 years I celebrate July 4th by hosting a 3-4 day reunion of Vietnam veteran Marines. My husband served with most of them on his two tours of duty in Vietnam. He is a combat 100% disabled veteran having entirely lost both legs and his right arm on his last mission on his 2nd combat tour in Vietnam to a booby trap. These Marines fly in from all over the United States to spend time together. Ironically, what I began as a way for the Marines to reunite, became a healing experience for them. To a man they are disabled, most from PTSD. After observing the Marines interactions with each other sharing stories from their service in Vietnam I realized that their stories were events they would never share with their spouses. I then invited them to bring their wives each year. This led to improved relationships at home and, in fact, two of the Marines told me that the July 4th celebrations saved their marriages. The Marines tell me they go home and begin marking off their calendars until the next July 4th celebration. On the 4th we raise the United States of America and USMC flags, say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the Star Spangled Banner and have a memorial service for Marines or wives who passed during the past year on our front lawn. Then it is a catered Texas-style barbeque. Out of all these activities over the years we now offer a $5,000 scholarship each year to a high school JROTC graduate to attend the university of their choice. I am a member of the Presidio Chapter, CA NSDAR. Thank you for allowing me to share how I have spent and continue to spend July 4th...welcoming home and celebrating the holiday these men took an oath to preserve for all citizens.
My wife and I are conservatives (age 72 & 73 respectively). We love our great country, embrace the flag and celebrate the 4th privately in our comfortable home acknowledging how blessed we are being American, believing in Christ Jesus and being in each other’s company!
Love this podcast! The committee does such a wonderful job, even with the challenge of moving to a weekly schedule! Looking forward to visiting the table this week and sparkling together! ❤
Great job!! I will be portraying Caroline Scott Harrison at the Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis during the day, then on to Symphony on the Prairie and fireworks at Conner Prairie! Happy 4th!🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing this story! I will be in uniform (SAR) at the town square where I live in Kentucky! I will be in a neighborhood parade then a city parade and educational encampment up to the fireworks on Independence Day! Then on the 5th I will be travel to Fishers to be in the Color guard for the symphony on the Prairie at Connor Prairie! Thanks for this podcast again! My wife is a proud DAR member also!
The Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter in Milford CT starts the day off meeting at 9am at the Revolutionary War monument in the old cemetery on Prospect Street. After a short presentation, we will drive to Liberty Rock Marker for another brief presentation. Revolutionary War Monument: Milford honors the common grave of 46 smallpox-infected Revolutionary War prisoners of war who died in the city in 1777 with a brownstone obelisk. The 1852 monument, in Milford Cemetery, honors infected Continental soldiers who were released onto a Milford beach on January 1, 1777 by British forces. Liberty Rock Monument: The site served as a lookout post and signal station. From Liberty Rock, Milford patriots watched the Housatonic River, then called the Stratford River, to guard against invasion by British forces during the Revolutionary War. The Spot was the highest elevation in the area. It was possible to see clear across the river to Stratford. Location: Marker is at the intersection of Bridgeport Avenue (U.S. 1) and Concord Avenue, on the left on Bridgeport Avenue.
For the past 32 years I celebrate July 4th by hosting a 3-4 day reunion of Vietnam veteran Marines. My husband served with most of them on his two tours of duty in Vietnam. He is a combat 100% disabled veteran having entirely lost both legs and his right arm on his last mission on his 2nd combat tour in Vietnam to a booby trap. These Marines fly in from all over the United States to spend time together. Ironically, what I began as a way for the Marines to reunite, became a healing experience for them. To a man they are disabled, most from PTSD. After observing the Marines interactions with each other sharing stories from their service in Vietnam I realized that their stories were events they would never share with their spouses. I then invited them to bring their wives each year. This led to improved relationships at home and, in fact, two of the Marines told me that the July 4th celebrations saved their marriages. The Marines tell me they go home and begin marking off their calendars until the next July 4th celebration. On the 4th we raise the United States of America and USMC flags, say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the Star Spangled Banner and have a memorial service for Marines or wives who passed during the past year on our front lawn. Then it is a catered Texas-style barbeque. Out of all these activities over the years we now offer a $5,000 scholarship each year to a high school JROTC graduate to attend the university of their choice. I am a member of the Presidio Chapter, CA NSDAR. Thank you for allowing me to share how I have spent and continue to spend July 4th...welcoming home and celebrating the holiday these men took an oath to preserve for all citizens.
My wife and I are conservatives (age 72 & 73 respectively). We love our great country, embrace the flag and celebrate the 4th privately in our comfortable home acknowledging how blessed we are being American, believing in Christ Jesus and being in each other’s company!
Love this podcast! The committee does such a wonderful job, even with the challenge of moving to a weekly schedule! Looking forward to visiting the table this week and sparkling together! ❤
I will be there in DC with everyone else participating that day.
Great job!! I will be portraying Caroline Scott Harrison at the Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis during the day, then on to Symphony on the Prairie and fireworks at Conner Prairie! Happy 4th!🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing this story!
I will be in uniform (SAR) at the town square where I live in Kentucky! I will be in a neighborhood parade then a city parade and educational encampment up to the fireworks on Independence Day! Then on the 5th I will be travel to Fishers to be in the Color guard for the symphony on the Prairie at Connor Prairie!
Thanks for this podcast again!
My wife is a proud DAR member also!
I will be at work, in my scrubs.
The Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter in Milford CT starts the day off meeting at 9am at the Revolutionary War monument in the old cemetery on Prospect Street. After a short presentation, we will drive to Liberty Rock Marker for another brief presentation.
Revolutionary War Monument: Milford honors the common grave of 46 smallpox-infected Revolutionary War prisoners of war who died in the city in 1777 with a brownstone obelisk. The 1852 monument, in Milford Cemetery, honors infected Continental soldiers who were released onto a Milford beach on January 1, 1777 by British forces.
Liberty Rock Monument: The site served as a lookout post and signal station. From Liberty Rock, Milford patriots watched the Housatonic River, then called the Stratford River, to guard against invasion by British forces during the Revolutionary War. The Spot was the highest elevation in the area. It was possible to see clear across the river to Stratford. Location: Marker is at the intersection of Bridgeport Avenue (U.S. 1) and Concord Avenue, on the left on Bridgeport Avenue.