Last weekend, I took the family to Fort Benning for the 4th of July celebration. As a Soldier in the US Army, I think it’s important to help my children know and appreciate the history of America and there is no better place to see a celebration of Her independence than on a military installation.
The day started with a relaxing morning where we discussed what it meant to be an American and how America came to be. I spun a tale of those adventurous pioneers that ventured across the ocean seeking a place where they could express their freedom and practice their beliefs the way they felt was right. I told them how they disagreed with the rules of their homeland and eventually had to fight for their freedom. My four year old told me that fighting was wrong and those people should have “used their words” to work out their problems instead of “being mean to each other”. I confirmed her assertion and told her that they tried many peaceful options before the Soldiers had to fight. Teaching moral lessons to our children can be hard. Often times we’re caught in a “catch 22”. I teach my girls that fighting isn’t good behavior, but then they see me in my uniform and ask what Soldiers do. I can see the confusion in their faces when I explain that Soldiers fight to keep America safe. That conflict of Dad’s rules and Dad’s job opens up the door to teach morality, personal courage, and standing up to help those that can’t help themselves. In the end, I try to help them understand that fighting should always be the very last option to solving a problem.
After our history lesson, we headed off to the pool to escape the hot Georgia sun. For my family, trips to the pool is highlight of our summertime activities. The kids love to swim and it’s a great way for them to expend their abundance of energy.
After a great trip to the pool, the kids were ready for their naps. The plan was falling into place! And their late naps meant that they would be able to stay up late and enjoy the fireworks at Fort Benning.
With well rested and fed children, I loaded up the family assault vehicle and we made our way to see the fireworks. We found a perfect spot to watch the celebration and settled in on the grass to enjoy a nice evening celebrating the greatest country in the world. It’s days like these that I’m thankful to be an American, a Dad, and a Soldier. Dadurdays are great, but this one was one of the best.
I know this is a week late, but being a Dad means that we stay busy and sometimes things get put off.
PS, I was able to shoot some video of the fireworks on my phone. The finale starts around minute 3 of video.
