The 4th on the 3rd

I am usually a stickler about celebrating the holiday ON the holiday. Therefore, for the last several years we have been unable to enjoy our usual July 4th pastimes because all the big stuff has started celebrating on Saturday whether that is the right day or not. HOWEVER. This time our favorite 4th activity took place Monday night on the 3rd. What the heck, close enough! So, we went to Fort Jackson's Torchlight Tattoo. We hang out for a few hours on the lawn of Hilton field, eating our picnic dinner, playing cards, soccer, or blowing bubbles, while watching thousands of soldiers filing in. It's really cool! It is also sobering. We noticed that the troops all had new fatigues. They are now dessert gray instead of the green camoflauge. We looked into their faces and knew where they were going. I was happy the kids could be there. We talked a lot about the meanings of the songs, the symbolism, patriotism. The 282nd Army 'Victory Band' plays a patriotic salute to the 50 states, 5 territories and the District of Columbia with a presentation of the flags and a cannon salute for each one. By then it was fully dark and we enjoyed the best fireworks in town! Happy 4th of July on our nation's 230th birthday!