4TH OF JULY THANKSGIVING by Catherine Lanigan & Rula Sinara

Courtesty of www.morguefile.com
FREEDOM 

As Americans we enjoy freedoms that millions of people the world over are not privy to. And we can think, say and do what we feel and believe at just about the turn of every corner. Social media has given us another avenue to express concerns, opinions and wishes that we didn’t have a decade ago.

The gift that holidays such as 4th of July give us is the opportunity to pause and remember that the USA we live in wouldn’t be what it is today without the sacrifice, commitment and deep faith in the goodness of mankind of our forefathers. For many of us authors, it was only a generation ago, our parents who fought and suffered through WWII. Today, there is an entire genre if fiction, “Alternative History” that addresses the “what if…the US had lost WWII”. The very idea brings me to a halt. Think of the other “what if’s” of our nation’s history. What if the American Revolution had gone the other way? Would we still be a colony? Would our lives be better or worse? Who would our heroes be then?


It is not just our soldiers who fight to protect us, but the every day heroes. Our police men and women who work shifts around the clock both boring hours and pulse-pounding moments under-fire to keep us safe. The firefighters who courageously battle chemical, residential, business and warehouse fires that threaten us. Today, the threat of forest fires and brush fires is greater than ever before. Due to the expansion of home building onto lands that were formerly forests, fires rage close to homes. The invasion of aggressive and foreign insects that devour and cause diseases in our nation’s trees and shrubs is ever increasing to the point that in the future, forest fires that eat acres of land for weeks, even month will become more prevalent. 

In my forthcoming book, RESCUED BY A FIREFIGHTER, in November, I address these issues that smoke jumpers face in our nation’s forests. These men and women risk injury and their lives the second they jump from a plane.

This 4th of July, please take a moment to think about those police, prison guards, firefighters, soldiers, security guards, the internet IT gatekeepers squelching foreign invasion into your laptop, and the hundreds of job descriptions of those whose contribution allow us to keep smiles on our faces as we watch the 4th of July parades, pack a picnic lunch, barbeque and watch fireworks explode in the sky. We thank God for the miracle of living in a free country. 

Courtesy of www.morguefile.com
SACRIFICE 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. So true, in many ways, but what’s also true is that we all want our children to grow up in a free and safe environment. It that same light, so many lost their lives in the fight for our independence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 wouldn’t have happened without their sacrifice. One year later, 13 gun salutes, parades, prayers, bonfires and fireworks started traditions we still embrace for our July 4th celebrations. But to keep out nation safe and protect our freedoms, it takes the ongoing sacrifice of all divisions of our military, here at home and abroad, and…as Catherine said…that includes all our heroes here at home, from firefighters, law enforcement, cyber security experts (something our founding fathers couldn’t have imagined!) and more. In this day and age, our independence, safety and security…and our children’s futures…are strongly linked to environmental factors too. With all the sacrifice and lives given to achieving and maintaining our independence, this beautiful land should be treated with care and reverence.

In my upcoming book, THE MARINE’S RETURN (January 2019), sacrifice in the name of our nation is at the forefront when a young, severely wounded marine struggles to embrace life again and let love in. It takes one headstrong heroine to get through to him, but themes of wildlife and nature factor in strongly as well.

This nation is our home. It’s our habitat. Our future. We may celebrate our independence on a single day, but let’s honor, respect and never forget the keepers of it…past, present and future.


God bless you all, 

Rula and Catherine

Comments

  1. Still the home of the brave. Thanks for sharing, Rula and Catherine.

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  2. What a beautiful post! I remember the 4th of July right after my husband returned from the Gulf War. It was such a joyous time and we were all so proud of the men and women who had returned. But the most emotional 4th of July I ever experienced was the one in a small town called Alpine, AZ. The Bear Wallow Fire had just ripped through the small community 2 years before, destroying over 583,000 acres. The small town was spared due to the efforts of smoke jumpers, some of them the Granite Mountain Hotshots. 19 of them had lost their lives in the Yarnell fire just a few days before. The entire parade was dedicated to them. I'll never forgot when the entire town paused for a moment of silence. It was the most eerie, sad and emotional thing I've ever seen.

    So thank you for this poignant reminder of all the men and women who work fearlessly for us every day. God Bless the USA.

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    1. Thank you, Liz. It IS the home of the brave. God Bless!

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    2. Wow, LeAnne, what a powerful experience. As a nation, we've lost so many to fires and my heart goes out to their families. Such bravery all around. And many thanks to your husband for his service and to you too!

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  3. LeeAnne, I can't imagine how it would have been to be there. I am humbled by the sacrifices that so many people, every single day, take to keep us all safe. Secure. And Happy and we are so busy that we don't take that second to say "thanks". Maybe prayer isn't part of everyone's life, but just that moment of lovely thought, is enough. Thank you for sharing with us, LeeAnne. Yours is a "wake up" kind of story.

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  4. We just passed the anniversary of the loss of the hotshots. The area still feels the shock and sadness. And yet some men and women are still willing to raise their hands to go into the fields of military, police and fire. I'm flying the flag for all of them. Hope everyone has a good July 4th this year.

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    1. They deserve to be honored. Happy 4th of July, Roz.

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  5. Happy Independence Day, Roz! Yes, I'm flying the flag and sending prayers, too. I hope you have a lovely holiday. I want to spend mine in front of a fan!!!

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  6. I appreciate the mention of the environment and linking it to the patriotism of Independence Day--taking care of this world is so important. And thanks for lifting up not only those who serve in the military, but also the many other people who serve on a vast variety of fronts. Another group I'm grateful for are those who face health threats on behalf of the public. In addition, there are volunteers who do things like pick up trash, rescue animals, and lend a helping hand to those in need. The list could continue. Thanks to all those who help make the world a better place.

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    1. You are so very right, Callie. There are many, many who make our lives easy for us. Happy 4th of July!

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    2. So, so true, Callie. Thank you for mentioning them as well...and as you said, the list could go on and on. Everyone is important, every contribution/job/task makes a difference and everyone working together and respecting and honoring each other (and the environment) is a precious thing.

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  7. And a friendly wave and salute from north of the border to you all! We took another two hundred years to break from the British, but on the upside, there wasn't as much bloodshed. It's not unusual to see American flags flown at this time of year around here--a show of solidarity and friendship. Have a great Independence Day!

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    1. I didn't know about the flags. That's great. Happy Canada Day a few days late to you.

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    2. Waving at you too! I hope you (and all our Canadian friends and fellow Heartwarmers, including our editorial team) had a wonderful Canada Day yesterday!

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  8. Wonderful post, Catherine and Rula. Thank you for the reminder. It seems every time we fly in or out of Arizona between March and October, we see a plume of smoke somewhere and know there are firefighters building lines and keeping it from spreading. And military doing the same overseas. I'm grateful.

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    1. Beth, when I lived in Los Angeles, only a few years ago, the fires were overwhelming to this Mid Westerner and in Houston where I lived for over thirty years, it was always WET. Not dry. But one year, I had to get to Scottsdale to see my doctor after throat and thyroid cancer. Well, they were closing down I-10 because of the smoke! The fire was all around us as we drove through it. It was way too much reality for me. When you see first hand how rapidly those fires can overtake everything in minutes, it is terrifying. Just another warning to be safe with those fireworks this 4th, everyone!

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    2. When I see news of the fires out west it stuns me every time. They're just so massive, fast and relentless. The same for all of nature and the power and impact of wind (like tornadoes or in terms of spreading fire) and water (hurricane season or mud slides). I'm grateful for all who help with saving or recovering from disasters, whether man (war/attacks) or nature induced...and that includes the coast guard, national guard, firefighters, animal rescuers and everyone in between, down to the neighbor who helps another neighbor. We endure.

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  9. What a beautiful post! My grandfather was an Italian immigrant whose parents sent him here to avoid being dragged into the war and ironically he enlisted as a US soldier and returned to Europe to fight against fascism and dictators anyway. My grandfather on my mothers side was Lithuanian and also an immigrant and he also enlisted and fought although he fought in the Pacific and was a Purple Heart recipient after Okinawa. Both were proud Americans, immigrants and veterans. Those were the values they instilled in me in what it meant to be an American- sacrifice, service, love of country and inclusiveness. My grandmother was also an immigrant and she cried when she saw the beautiful Statue of Liberty - because it meant she was safe and free. I’m glad my family was allowed to come here and now members serve in law enforcement, the military and the fire department.. two of my cousins- who were brothers in the same ladder company lost their lives when the World Trade Center came down on 911. Proud of my family’s history of Immigrants, Americans, patriots.

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    1. Karen, many thanks to your family for their service over the years and my heart goes out to the losses your family has endured. You come from a line of heroes and heroines and have such a beautiful history to be proud of and it's reflective of American history and the values our nation is built upon. I,too, am the daughter of immigrants and a proud American :). Thanks so much for sharing your family history. It's so inspiring and beautiful.

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