MARY BILLITER

Perspective

I love a good parade. Growing up in Kentucky, the Fourth of July was celebrated all day and well into the evening. My brothers, sister and I would weave red, white and blue crepe paper streamers through our bicycle spokes and ride with our dad to the neighborhood parade.

The smell of grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob wrapped in tin foil brought us to the backyard, where we dined in true patriotic fashion at our redwood picnic table. Sitting beneath a willow tree on a blanket of thick Kentucky bluegrass while we waved sparklers and watched the firework show always ended our daylong celebration.

Our move to California ushered in the Huntington Beach City Parade that wrapped around Main Street. Motorized floats, marching bands and, of course, there�s always a little deuce coupe in Surf City USA. We�d stake out a spot at the beach, roast our dinner and s�mores over a driftwood fire and watch the sky above the Pacific Ocean turn a blaze of colors. Fourth of July in Huntington Beach was nothing short of perfect.

When it isn�t snowing in July, Wyoming can be quite the place to celebrate the Fourth. Our little town of Alpine had its first parade last year. I drove our Brownie Troop in my convertible bug. With the top down, the girls sat on the back-seat and waved to the crowd in true princess fashion. We were quite cute. My Texas husband, Jim, barbecued brisket in his slow cooker all day long so that by nightfall the meat fell apart on the plate. Fireworks backlit the Wyoming mountain range as another part of America, the beautiful, came to life on Independence Day.

All these years of memories, four decades actually, and yet have I ever once said, "Thank you?" Have I ever taken the time to thank the men and women who fought and continue to fight for these freedoms I enjoy daily and celebrate once a year? No, I haven't. I've been having a good time at the parade. And, rightly so, it's a time to celebrate, when we remember what we're celebrating.

This Fourth of July, a record 56,000 United States military troops will be in Afghanistan, alongside 32,000 troops from 41 other countries. Under the direction of General Stanley McChrystal, American soldiers will be protecting Afghan civilians at a time when violence and U.S. military deaths have amassed record numbers.

According to The Associated Press, 74 U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan this year, a rate that will likely surpass the record 151 killed last year.

How many more men and women will lose their life as we watch the parade and cheer at the fireworks? How many more soldiers will die on the Fourth of July?

I wish I could say none. I wish that the casualties of war were over, but the war isn't over. Somehow I think we've lost sight of that.

When McChrystal recently addressed several hundred troops in central Kabul, his was a call of duty.

"(We) must recapture the excitement and inspiration that ignited this country."

Referring to the 2001 fall of the Taliban regime, McChrystal's wartime direction could be a war cry to those of us at home.

We must recapture the excitement and inspiration that ignited this country. We're a great country. We recognize our fallen heroes with memorials, parades and news events. But what about the soldiers who are still serving? What about them? What are we doing for them to show them that their efforts matter? What are we doing to inspire them?

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, ignited and awoke our country to solidarity. Unifying as a country is as important today as it was eight years ago. If anything, our troops need us now more than before.

The AP reports that President Barack Obama has increased the U.S. focus on Afghanistan this year, ordering 21,000 new troops to the country even as the U.S. begins to pull troops out of Iraq. In total, there is expected to be about 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Our men and women in the military forces need us. They need to know we support their efforts. For thousands of these soldiers, they are returning to the battlefield. This isn't their first tour. For many others, they are deploying at a time when America seems to have lost interest in the war.

American soldiers deserve more. They deserve our respect and our admiration. Every one of our soldiers has earned it and many have lost their lives in defense of it.

Today as we celebrate our freedom, there are thousands of American men and women fighting today and every day for the freedom of others.

The American Legion Auxiliary and the Fire Department in our community are always posting flyers about the disbursement of monthly troop boxes. A suggested donation list of what our soldiers need is usually offered. Take a look. I have. The "wants" of our soldiers are not great. Reading material. DVDs. Nonperishable treats. Sundry items. Postage stamps. I've been told the soldiers prefer the dog-eared books and used DVDs. Their needs are simple.

It doesn't cost much to put together a bag full of goodies to send to our troops. And you know what? It feels good to give back. Our soldiers deserve to know that they are remembered and that they matter.

I have so many wonderful memories of the Fourth of July. I only have these memories because of the countless women and men, like my father and father-in-law, who have served for our country. It's long overdue, but to all those who have served or who continue to serve for our country, thank you.

Mary Billiter of Alpine is a weekly Star-Tribune columnist. Write to her at mbilliter@silverstar.com.