Let me be the first to wish you a happy Fourth of July!  This is an extraordinarily special weekend, and Tuesday will mark an extraordinarily special day in the history of our country.  As you celebrate, take time off, and participate in various festivities, take the time to recall the real meaning of July 4th:  our nation’s independence.

Although this holiday offers us well deserved time to relax, spend time with family and friends, enjoy summer recreation, and pursue other leisure activities, Independence Day is about more than fireworks, hot dogs, and baseball. 

Those things are inherently part of our celebration and they are a part of American culture.  But Independence Day is about just that:  independence. 

This Fourth of July marks the 230th anniversary of the birth of our nation, the day when brave and dedicated patriots made manifest their love of liberty and founded a nation based on freedom. The world has never been the same. America has stood—and still stands—for freedom.

On the Fourth of July, we mark more than a birthday. We honor those willing to fight and die to keep our country free.  Today’s global war on terrorism is every bit as much a fight for freedom as the war that was fought in 1776. 

This Independence Day, I ask that you remember those who paid for our freedom over two hundred years ago, and not forget those who defend and secure it now.  Please also remember the families and friends of those deployed—include them in your festivities and celebrations this weekend.

While you celebrate and otherwise spend time this weekend, I cannot overstate the importance of safety!  Fun abounds on summer days during time off, but danger lurks as well.  I want to address four common areas that pose tremendous risk to all of you and your families:  fireworks, barbecues/grills, driving, and drinking.

Fireworks are a fantastic and exciting way to celebrate this holiday, and are in keeping with long held traditions.  However, they must be used safely, responsibly, and they need to be used by adults.  Children between the ages of 10 and 14 are historically most at risk, but that age continues to trend downwards. 

The Naval Safety Center and the Navy Region Northwest Safety Office is able to provide specific safety guidelines as can local fire departments. Perhaps the two best guidelines are first to keep a fire extinguisher or other extinguishing method (a garden hose) at hand, and, second, to avoid illegal fireworks.

Summer evenings offer a fantastic opportunity to spend time around the barbecues grilling great food.  The barbecue, though, offers plenty of opportunity to get hurt or to see a family member severely injured.

Consider a few safety ideas:  keep a fire extinguisher (or a garden hose) handy.  Be careful where you light the grill: right next to your home, fence, or under an overhang isn’t a great idea. Use lighter fluid sparingly and then put it away.  Exercise common sense and enjoy food—not the emergency room.

Many of you will drive to visit friends, family, and relatives this weekend.  Put an ounce of prevention into your trip before you start the car. Change the oil and have major safety components (brakes, lights, steering) inspected. 

Plan your trip:  know where gas stations are; know when and where you plan to rest; know your route; and know when you plan to stop. Don’t rush; get plenty of sleep.  Driving tired can be as deadly as driving while intoxicated.

That brings me to what is potentially the most important point:  be careful about drinking.  Mixing drinking and any of the other activities mentioned (fireworks, barbecues, and driving) is a potentially fatal mix.

I won’t belabor the point, but if you plan to drink plan to either stay home or plan to have a driver.

Also, if you plan to drink, be careful around the grill and with fireworks.  The two don’t mix.

Have a happy Fourth of July and stay safe!