It’s Independence Day! Let me start by saying Happy Fourth of July to everyone who is reading this blog. Even though I’m in Iraq at this very moment, I’m still very excited about this holiday. I have always considered myself patriotic. I mean I am currently deployed to Iraq. Others may not realize it but signing up to be in the military is in a way being patriotic even if that was or was not their goal. Well, that’s at least the way I like to think about it.

Normally, for Independence Day I visit family and friends. We have barbecue, potato salad and baked beans, or something else along those lines. When it gets dark, we’ll do more celebrating with fireworks. The day is usually just fun.

This year, however, I will not get to visit my family and friends. At first, I was really disappointed by this idea. I was really upset knowing that I would not get to eat my dad’s wonderful barbecue or my mom’s great baked beans. I mean this is a holiday that, if possible, should be spent with loved ones.

As I sat at a desk in the office, I looked around. I realized I’m not the only one away from family and friends on this day.

However, I remembered I’m with a new family this year. We’ve been deployed for almost seven months now. No matter how much you may or may not get along with some of the people you deploy with, they become your family. At least it did with this unit especially with me. You have the father types, the mother types, the sisters, and brothers that you can’t always stand. You have the ones that get on your nerves because they won’t leave you alone and the ones that you talk to when something happens. Everyone here contributes to the 314th family.

I was always told that the people you deploy with become some of your closest friends. I didn’t really believe that until I deployed. The bonds you form are indescribable. Even though I’m miles and miles away from home I feel in a way my family is here.

Since in a way, this is my family I wanted to do some type of celebration for Independence Day. Luckily our Family Readiness Group leader is nice to send decorations for the holidays. I took it upon myself to coordinate the decoration of the office with the supplies sent from Birmingham.

When I started I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do. I was just going to play it by ear. I convinced another soldier (PFC Bernat) to help decorate the three big windows in the office. At first she seemed like, “here SGT Anderson goes again with one of her cheerful ideas,” but after a while Bernat seemed fine with the idea of decorating. I honestly think she was getting into it, but I don’t think she’ll admit it.

Although, our shift was over for the night, I was far from being finished decorating. I wanted the room to be filled with patriotic items.

I continued decorating hours after my shift had ended. I was fortunate to have two other soldiers (SGT Fowler and SPC Gardner) as energetic about decorating as I was. We were really getting into this. Fowler made a wonderful Uncle Sam hat with beard and cuff links. Gardner actually went on the internet for arts and crafts and found how to make flags out of streamers and paper. It was great. I really was enjoying this.

Finally, at 2:30 a.m. we were finished. The room looked great. It’s amazing how much we put into getting this room decorated. I was very happy with the final result.

I definitely believe everyone else in the unit will really enjoy the decorations. Hopefully, this will help us bring the day overseas and boost morale. At least being able to do this little bit of decorating for this holiday made me miss being home a little less.

Photos by Sgt. Emily Anderson, 314th PAOC.

Spc. Brittany Gardner pieces together steamers and paper to make an American flag.