Fourth of July - Marine Corps Style

I think celebrating the Fourth on a military base is the coolest thing in the world. It's also one of the safest. You have to pass armed guards to get onto the base. We were lucky that the fireworks and other celebration was only a few blocks away from our house. It reminded me of the old-fashioned celebrations in my hometown of Kearney when I was younger. I remember cake walks, everyone having to take a turn churning home-made ice cream; the bleachers behind the school and the atmosphere of excitement and fun. At Parris Island they had dunk tanks, bouncy houses, clowns with balloons, face painting and FREE ice-cream, hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks, and who knows what else. Everything was free. Everything. You could see and hear recruits marching on the outside of the field; the Parris Island Marine Corps band played dance tunes and patriotic songs; families set up on big blankets and had picnics; teenagers played frisbee and football on the fields. The breeze off the water was incredible and the temperatures were perfect. We watched fireworks and later saw Port Royals fireworks across the bay also. Gary said it was the best fourth of July ever for him. Me too. :)