Happy Fourth of July 2022

Happy Fourth of July 2022

Let me begin this week’s story telling all the brave men and women in our Armed Forces how grateful we are as a country for all their sacrifices and commitments. I want to thank them for allowing all of us to enjoy the tremendous amounts of freedom we have. I want to try my best to remember this every day and never take them for granted.

I had heard several people talk about a Fourth of July program called the Stadium of Fire at the BYU stadium in Provo. It is a very patriotic program with a concert followed by fireworks. So, this year I wanted to take Kristi and her two sons Jeff and Carter to it for her birthday. (Her birthday is Tuesday, so you can already guess what next week’s story is going to be!) The headline act was Tim McGraw, and I have always loved his music.

The program began with a fly-over with three F35 jets from the Hill Air Force base. That was followed by the Golden Knights parachute team. It was incredible to watch their precision and accuracy as they descended into the stadium. At that point, there was a several tributes to some remarkable people who helped so many different people all over the world. Entrepreneurs who have helped provide food, education, and medical assistance to so many different regions. As they recognized these amazing people, it really struck me that I have not heard about any of them. Because that is not why they are doing it. They are not doing it for fame or recognition. They are not doing it so they can go on a late night talk show to let everyone know how great they are. They are doing it simply because it is the right thing to do. They are doing it because that is a reward that money cannot buy. It inspires me to always keep that focus and do everything I can to help others. The best part of the program was when the honored a Ninety-One-year old pilot from World War Two for his service. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and you could see the tears well-up in his eyes.

 With the scenery of the beautiful mountains and all the families there with kids dressed up in patriotic attire, it was one of those moments that you know you will always remember and hold close in your heart. It was a wonderful concert, and it was so great to be there and share it with Kristi and her sons. I hope you all have a safe and Happy Fourth of July and make some special memories with your friends and families. Thanks for reading.

Next week: Kristi’s birthday

P.S. The event was so good, it was worth driving in Utah traffic. And that is saying something!