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Posts by Amy Smith

Independence Day

Independence Day

Submitted by: James Placek, Vice President of Operations Division 4 Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the 13 American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other …

Love and Respect for Our Country

Love and Respect for Our Country

Submitted by: Rosanne Salmen, Customer Service Representative, Las Vegas, NV The Fourth of July means a great deal to me as my father was a “lifer” in the military and we were brought up to love and respect our Country. Just like most people, we spent the Fourth of July with family and friends, either at the beach or in the backyard pool. We grilled the usual hot dogs and hamburgers and shot off the good ole’ “Safe and Sane” fireworks at night. But unlike most people, we were not allowed to forget what this holiday meant to our Country and all …

Celebrating, Remembering, and Honoring!

Celebrating, Remembering, and Honoring!

Submitted by: Brian Peveroff, Store Manager Ogden, Utah The 4th of July, to me, is not just a day to go to parades, barbecue, and set off fireworks. A lot of people mistake holidays like this as a day of relaxation, food, and fun; however, the Fourth of July is a day of celebration of the freedom others fought to provide us with 241 years ago and of those who continue the fight to this day! Independence Day is a day to celebrate the freedom that we as Americans have to live our lives the way we see fit and …

Continuing Traditions

Continuing Traditions

Submitted by: Allan Cieniuch, Regional Director of Operations, Southern California Ronald Reagan said it best, “For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July.” When I was young growing up outside of Chicago, July 4th was always a special time. We would wake up early and catch the local parade in downtown Brookfield and afterwards we would BBQ, play baseball, and swim. Then, we would wait with high anticipation for the sun to go down and the fireworks to start. There is …

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Submitted by: Marcelino Del Bosque, Store Manager, Phoenix, Arizona The Fourth of July is a day of independence and freedom. This is the day the original thirteen colonies claimed their independence from Great Britain by signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This is a significant event because it led to the birth of the United States. In today’s modern society, we celebrate this historical event by watching the explosion of fireworks with friends, family, and those close to us. It is a day to appreciate how blessed each and every citizen of the United States is to …

Freedom, Family, and Sacrifice

Freedom, Family, and Sacrifice

Submitted by: Elisa Silva, Store Manager, Glendale, Arizona The 4th of July means freedom, family, and sacrifice to me. We have the freedom to live and grow as individuals. We have the freedom to become anything we set our sights on. We have these freedoms because of the sacrifices so many men and women have made for us for hundreds of years. Family – a strong unit that ties not only by blood, but by love and trust. The 4th of July is a time when you can spend time with family and forget the everyday hustle and bustle of …

July 4th Celebration in the Mountains

July 4th Celebration in the Mountains

Submitted by: Justine Faasse, General Manager, Nevada Growing up, the 4th of July created a lot of great family memories and now it’s a day I truly look forward to as it brings my whole family back together, allowing our kids the opportunity to gain the same memories. For us, the day begins with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents meeting up. A lot of people come in from out of town to spend the holiday weekend together swimming and having family nights out. For the 4th of July in particular, we spend a good portion of the morning working together to get everything …

A Tennessee Family Retreat!

A Tennessee Family Retreat!

Submitted by: Michael Zuidema, District Director of Operations, Nashville, TN We all celebrate the independence of our country differently, as individuals, families, and organizations. I like to take time to reflect on what it means to me by thinking about the risk and ultimate sacrifice made by a few Americans over 240 years ago.  I do this by reading about our country’s founders and the struggles that led them to make the decisions that ultimately brought us, as Americans, to where we are today. This reflection is something I started a few years ago and it gives me a sense …

4 Travel Spots for the 4th of July!

4 Travel Spots for the 4th of July!

Submitted by: Thomas D. Bridgman II, District Director of Operations Irving, Texas To my family, July 4th is an important holiday. It is a time to reflect on our Nation and the many great people who have worked hard to make this Republic the great democracy that it is. We are very proud of this nation and celebrate its independence with fireworks, barbeque, and travel. We’ve taken some wonderful July 4th holiday trips over the years, but I’ve listed our four most favorite family vacation spots for you!   Stone Mountain, Georgia. We traveled to this suburb of Atlanta to watch their …

Family, Food, and Fun at the Beach!

Family, Food, and Fun at the Beach!

Submitted by: Gregory Ludwig, General Manager- TMX Certified Trainer   We are planning to spend our 4th of July the same way we do every year… relaxing with friends and family at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island. Every year, we get up early, pack up our grill, hot dogs, and sparklers then head out early to beat the beach crowd!     Luckily, this year we get to spend the day with a family friend who is an active Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army and my father-in-law who served for 25 years in the U.S. Navy. Our family is proud of their service and we are honored to spend the day celebrating the freedoms they have sacrificed so much …