  
|  | ||||||||||||||
Your Fourth of July messages
 Edward B. Mendez is deployed in Iraq with the 4th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade, 204th Support Battalion. SPECIAL REPORT
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- Many Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and patriotic displays of red, white and blue, just as the founding fathers commemorated the Fourth of July at the end of the Revolutionary War. With thousands of U.S. troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, CNN.com asked its users to send Fourth of July messages to and from the servicemen and women stationed abroad. The Millers of Mason, Ohio, wrote, "The U.S. holiday is for the true patriots of this country, Washington, Jefferson, Adams and countless others including you. You protect our interests and strive to give the broken countries of the world a glimpse of what can be achieved." Here is a sampling of other e-mails, some of which have been edited for clarity and length. I want to send a Fourth of July message to my lovely wife Saira and my two children Biancca and Johann, who are waiting for my safe return home from Iraq. I am currently deployed with the 4th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade, 204th Support Battalion. This has not been the first time away from home and will not be the last, and after 12 years of marriage into the military, my wife has been the pillar that sustains our family together. Thanks to all the supportive spouses that hang it tough with us while we're doing our job. Happy Fourth of July. My son is a United States Marine currently serving as one of the troops in Iraq. As we all celebrate the 4th of July, let us all remember those who are serving that cannot celebrate the Red, White and Blue with us. This holiday will make me proud knowing my son is serving and protecting his country while others celebrate their freedom here. Keep all of our troops in your prayers and don't ever forget why they are there. My son will be home in less than a month for some R&R and that is when I will have my celebration! I stand proud to be a Mother of a United States Marine. To All Those Serving in Iraq and Afghanistan on this Independence Day and ESPECIALLY to the love of my life, SSG Gary Stacy, an Army Reserve Journalist with the 207th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Balad, Iraq Thank you for fighting terrorism on foreign soil so that the kids and I are safe on American soil. Thank you for caring enough about democracy to take more than a year out of your life to go to a foreign land to nurture baby democracy so that others can know the freedoms that we take for granted. Thank you all for serving, keeping the terrorist threat away from our soil, nurturing the beginnings of self-governement, teaching and caring for the Iraqi people. We can't wait until you're safely home and we are VERY PROUD of YOU, your unit and our government and the work that is being accomplished in Iraq. To all our wonderful American Military men and women, I want to say that you are thought of and that we are proud of you for your selfless service. Having a loved one in "the Sandbox" for the past 2 1/2 years, I know the excitement of leave and him coming home and the sadness of him leaving our family for another tour, and going on with as "normal" as life can be when he is gone. I am so proud of him and of all of you. I will reflect with pride this 4th of him and all of you and think of the sacrifices that you and your families are going through. May God bless you all and keep you in his care. Stay strong!! Our wish is that someday soon the IRAQI people have their own Independence Day to celebrate ... God Bless Each and Every One of You...THANKS TO YOU ALL. GODSPEED BE WITH YOU I am writing from a U.S. Army post in Baumholder, Germany. I would like to wish my husband on his second tour in Iraq - CPT Michael Persin of 1-35 Armor, as well as all soldiers currently serving their country in OIF/OEF; a safe, happy and well deserved Fourth of July holiday. I am sure I speak for all my fellow military spouses when I say; be safe, we love you and come home soon. I just wanted to take a moment on this glorious day to celebrate your willingness and desire to fight for the same ideals that our Founding Fathers defended. You are One with them in the vital mission of protecting freedom. May God bless each and every one of you; see fit to bless America and her ideals, and to bring you home in triumph soon. I'd like to tell my nephew, Daniel Blevins, serving with the Army in Kabul, Afghanistan, how proud his whole family is of him! And I will be thinking of him and all of our troops there and in Iraq tonight while the fireworks are going off. We love you Dan!  Cpl. Anthony Pietro D'Amato of the U.S. Marines is currently deployed aboard the USS Nashville. This message is for my son and his unit, Corporal Anthony Pietro D'Amato of the USMC. He's currently deployed aboard the USS Nashville, heading back to Iraq for his second tour over there. We want to send all of you our thanks and good wishes as we begin to celebrate Independence Day here in the states, which of course wouldn't be possible without the dedication to duty that yourselves and our forefathers have given so unselfishly. It is because of your love for this country and your willingness to actually stand up and volunteer yourselves for this duty that makes you the best of the best. You're doing what most people would never have the guts to do -- put your actions where your heart is!! We can't thank you enough for the freedoms we so richly enjoy, and unfortunately sometimes take for granted, but on this day everyone remembers proudly that freedom isn't free. Do what you have to do and get back home soon to your family and loved ones. We love you and miss you. OOH RAH!! Semper Fi. I would like to thank the men and women who have left their families and homes to protect us in the USA. I have a nephew who is serving in the Air Force and is in Iraq for the third time. I pray for the safe return of him and all of our service people. Thank you so much for your dedication. I also hope and pray that each and every one of you will be returning home soon safe. I just wanted to wish all of our troops a Happy Fourth of July, and to say thank you for continuing to support the freedom that we won so many years ago. I appreciate your many sacrifices, and wish each of you a safe return. I would like to say THANK YOU to the brave young men and women who are defending the freedom that we enjoy. May God bless you all. If there is any thing I can do for you, please let me know. To my brother, SSGT Patrick Carr, serving with the 147th Charlie Battery in Baghdad: We love you and think of you every day. Stay alert and come home to us safe! Happy Fourth of July! Luv', Your sis' Cathie Just wanted to wish my son, Lance Corporal Nicholas Metcalf, (Al-Asad, Iraq), and my husband, Sgt. Scott Metcalf, (Camp Adder, Iraq), a happy Fourth of July. So proud of you both. Miss and love you guys. Keep your butts low. Semper Fi ... Mom and wife. I have been in Iraq since August of last year, and I am finally getting close to coming home. During my year here I have received so much support from my friends, co-workers and family back home it has been overwhelming. I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their thoughts and prayers and wonderful care packages. I simply ask that you all continue to keep the Iraqi people in your prayers during these deadly, violent times. I have two younger siblings serving in Seabees Battalion 25 stationed at Camp Al-Asad in the Anbar region. Their names are MA1 Susan Arndt and CM1 Jeffery Arndt. They are twins. Physically, different as night and day, but their kindred, adventurous spirits work as one! On this Fourth of July it is a time to reach out to the men and women who protect our country on a daily basis with their selfless service. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. To all of my family and friends from your Army nurse in Afghanistan: HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! SEE YOU SOON! Miss and love you all! God bless the U.S.! :) Sending out a Fourth of July greeting to the Marines and Sailors of the 24th MEU. Thank you for all that you do. Stay strong and be safe. Connie Jacksonville, North Carolina I want to say Happy Fourth of July to everyone at home, and to all my friends and family. I'll be home soon. 
|
| ||||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
