I'll never forget the day the day the phone rang.  It was hot and sunny.  June 2nd.  Rob's unit had rolled over an IED in Iraq, and he was injured.  I made my way to the German hospital as quickly as I could, and sat by his bed.  He was in bad shape.  

It's the courage of soldiers like him - that's why we celebrate.

On this July 4^th holiday weekend: Flag, Dog tags, Bible, dress bow ties for Lt. Colonel Fred J. Coplin, US Army WWII (Intelligence, stateside), US Army Reserves (Fort Knox, medical unit) until his death in 1974. Service medals & 21 gun salute bullets from my dad’s funeral are mounted behind the flag. Dad was intensely proud of America and grateful for being able to serve our country. He was a great dad & still influences me.

His brother, Guy Richard Coplin, whom I am named after, was killed in action over Belgium while a B-24 (I think) tail gunner on May 19^th, 1944; he is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.  He fought for our freedom in the 578th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy.

Several other relatives have served including both grandfathers (Army), my stepfather (Navy, USS Duncan), my uncle (Air Force), various cousins (Air Force, Marines), my father-in-law (USS Oriskany), my brother-in-law (Navy, USS Dale).

• I celebrate to honor my heritage; my parents were German immigrants and I clearly remember their patriotic pride the day they became citizens of this great country
• I celebrate to honor my son, who served in the U.S.Army, 82nd Airborne, including combat overseas, to help support the rights of the people in other countires that we enjoy every day in the USA
• I celebrate the equality and unalienable rights of people to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, outlined by our founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence; they are far too precious to not be celebrated, at least once a year.
• I celebrate with pride as an American and believe it is important to commemorate the birth of our nation
• I celebrate because reflection on history is a healthy foundation for a great future

Happy birthday, USA!

• To recognize all the sacrifices those before us made so we can be free to do what we want this weekend (and any weekend).
• To give props to those who are sacrificing right now to do the same. Not just the men & women officially serving our country, but also their families who make financial, emotional and physical sacrifices every day. And they often go rewarded or even recognized.
• For our friend Eric, who has served more than his share of tours of duty in the Middle East - and has experienced things the majority of us can understand or imagine.
• For DJ, the birth father of our son. He's is a Marine who will be deployed this fall.
• For Bre, our son's birth mom, who will miss her husband while he's in training this summer and off across the ocean later in the year.
• For Caroline, the woman who helps raise our boy during the day while I work. She is a Navy wife waiting for her much loved husband to come home soon.
• And most certainly for our 5-month old son, Ayden Blue. He doesn't quite understand what the meaning of "being free" is yet, but I hope he will appreciate and honor those that made it possible for him to live a life that gives him the freedom to be whatever he wants to be. And to throw down this jaunty little smile like he know more than he does.