7/4/76 - Happy Fourth of July
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 1:13 pm
Happy Fourth of July, craps pals. It's that time of year where we break out the grill again, scrape off the Memorial Day ash and grease from those burned steaks, burgers, and dogs, and burn some more meat. Crack out the cold bear and soft drinks, head to the beach or lake or just hang out in the back yard and catch a little sun, throw the frisbee for the dog to chase, and maybe light off a few firecrackers tonight or catch a fireworks show. You gotta love it - even if you don't stop to thing what this day really stands for.
Interestingly enough, if you ever happen to be up in the Boston area and take a tour of Lexington - Concord where the "shot heard round the world" was fired, you'll pass the graves of a couple of British soldiers who were killed in that skirmish, and a house that still bears a hole in the wall next to the front door where a musket ball struck it during the battle. Subtle reminders of the toll that the War of Independence cost the founders of this country. The numbers were small compared to the numbers of lives lost in - say - Vietnam. But compared with the population numbers in this country at the time - they were significant. Throughout the course of the war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 were wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war. Think about that. If you became a POW you had about a 50% chance of surviving in captivity. Talk about gambling with your life.
So enjoy your day. But at some point before you go to bed tonight, take a minute to say a little prayer for those brave volunteer soldiers who gave all so you could sip a cold one with your burger this afternoon. They were the original American heroes.
Interestingly enough, if you ever happen to be up in the Boston area and take a tour of Lexington - Concord where the "shot heard round the world" was fired, you'll pass the graves of a couple of British soldiers who were killed in that skirmish, and a house that still bears a hole in the wall next to the front door where a musket ball struck it during the battle. Subtle reminders of the toll that the War of Independence cost the founders of this country. The numbers were small compared to the numbers of lives lost in - say - Vietnam. But compared with the population numbers in this country at the time - they were significant. Throughout the course of the war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 were wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war. Think about that. If you became a POW you had about a 50% chance of surviving in captivity. Talk about gambling with your life.
So enjoy your day. But at some point before you go to bed tonight, take a minute to say a little prayer for those brave volunteer soldiers who gave all so you could sip a cold one with your burger this afternoon. They were the original American heroes.