Americans occasionally forget why we celebrate the 4th of July by shooting off fireworks; that it is more than grilling hotdogs and hamburgers and drinking cold beverages; that it is more than an event for the amusement of our children as they watch and hear the night sky exploding in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors; that it is more than a three-day weekend. They forget the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 and that America fought the Revolutionary war against Britain to secure our freedom from tyranny. The 4th of July symbolizes the freedoms enjoyed by everyone in America, a day to honor our brave military men and women; a day of sadness for those who have died fighting for those freedoms; a day of great joy for all Americans to stand up and shout out loudly, "I am proud to be an American"! There is no better way in Lake County to celebrate and honor our military than going to the Naval Station Great Lakes' 4th of July Celebration. This years celebration included a wide variety of entertainment, which included amusement park rides, bingo, bmx riders, and music from the legendary rock band Loverboy blaring out many of their platinum hits including "Loverboy", "Working for the Weekend", "Get Lucky", and "Turn me Loose". A huge selection of different foods and beverages, including cold beer and hot coffee were sold there. There were picnic tables in a food-court for your eating convenience. A wide variety of souvenirs were sold including patriotic t-shirts, caps, posters, and glow toys for the children. Prior to the evening's spectacular fireworks finale, 45 minutes of continuous fireworks, the crowd was requested to stand for Evening Colors and the lowering of the American flag as the sun was setting while the Great Lakes Naval Band played the National Anthem followed by the songs for each of the military branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard as a tribute to all the brave men and women serving in our military. The 45 minute fireworks were accompanied by songs like "Proud to be an American" and "God Bless the USA". The Naval Station has the best fireworks finale in all of Lake County, and maybe throughout the entire state! The Navy's military police provided excellent crowd control and everyone was told upfront that setting off your own fireworks was prohibited as were sparklers for the children. There were plenty of restrooms with hand washing stations, as well as plenty of parking. The grounds crew did a great job of keeping the grounds immaculate during the celebration by the military personal. Although, I can't believe that this 4th of July celebration can be outdone, I am looking forward to next years Centennial celebration at the Naval Station Great Lakes on the 4th. The Naval Station Great Lake opened its gates in 1911 and continues training the finest of our men and women. Their Centennial 4th of July celebration is an event that you and your family do not want to miss.

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