Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
I consider myself very fortunate to have great friends around the country and the world. Because of that, I'm often near one of my friends whenever I have the opportunity to travel. Once, while traveling through the New England states, I had the chance to spend a few days with a good friend in Portsmouth, NH. Portsmouth is a beautiful town with a rich history, going back to colonial times and before. It is also an entry point for many soldiers returning to the US after being deployed overseas. My friend, Kim, was part of a group of people who would greet soldiers at the airport as they returned home. When I was visiting Kim, there was a group of National Guard troops returning home from the Middle East. It also happened to be the Fourth of July. When Kim told me about going to the airport to greet these soldiers, I said, “That sounds great, count me in.” Kim looked back at me and said with a smile, “It's not optional.” It really did not occur to me the significance of the day until I got to the airport. I was then hit with the idea, “What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than to do something nice for the very people who help ensure the 'independence' we celebrate on that day?” It was a lot of fun talking to the guys as they made their way through the airport. They had a bit of time before catching another flight to their homes in Missouri, which gave us a chance to talk to them and get to know them a little better. That day, “Independence Day” had a little bit more significance, and a little bit more meaning, simply because I was reminded that this thing we call “freedom” is far from free. I hope you all have a very safe and happy Independence Day. If you happen to see someone in uniform, take a second to tell them “thank you.”