by Bradley Hood
In Military Education Contributor
July 4th, 1776: A date of powerful significance for every American, acknowledged today as one of our most important annual national holidays. It was on this date that the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, and distributed copies, so that all could see that the thirteen colonies had officially announced separation from the British Crown. The American War of Independence had begun a year before, in the revolutionary fires of Boston, and in 1776 the outcome of the war seemed far from a sure thing. Still, in the face of all adversity, brave Americans signed their names to a document the British would consider treason, and gave the Revolution a new meaning – it was no longer about representation in British government, but a liberty born of independence.
As with many national holidays, the weight of this occasion weighs heavily on the minds of service members. As a military historian and a Marine, I often reflect on the hardship our forefathers must have endured. Alexander Graydon, a Captain during the Revolution, wrote in 1815: “The times were not all fire and fury, as certain modern pretenders to the spirit of Seventy-six have almost persuaded us they were”, and the bloody foot prints left in the December snow just north of Trenton before that momentous victory can attest to this. But it does not take a service member or a military historian to appreciate July 4th. We all remember and celebrate our American heritage in different ways: This summer I will be taking my wife up to the family property in Maine, where we will watch fireworks and enjoy a barbeque with friends and family, all set against the waters of Casco Bay.
I did not always have the luxury of such a relaxed celebration. In the past 5 years I have spent 3 summers in a military training environment. As a candidate in Officer Candidates School at Quantico, I remember the chow hall had three pathetic shrimp with some cocktail sauce as a special treat for the occasion. Make no mistake – we all devoured those shrimp – but in light of this memory I would like to take the time to recognize those service members who are deployed or otherwise unable to enjoy the holiday. Thank you for your service, and I wish you the best in the accomplishment of your future goals, whether they be in the completion of a degree or just to return home to your family and friends.
About the Author: Bradley Hood is a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant in IRR status with 5 years of prior enlisted experience. He is a recent graduate of American Military University, and currently is working towards a Master’s degree in Military History through Norwich. Bradley lives with his beautiful wife in historic NJ.
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