Willing to Serve: Military Members Celebrate Independence Day
A display of American flags are featured during a celebration in New York City. Photo: Louie Preciado.
July 5, 2020 - San Antonio
Article By: Brigid Cooley - Staff Intern, SA Sentinel
A sea of American flags sit outside of Boston Common. Photo: Louie Preciado.
While city sponsored celebrations are canceled and parks are closed in an attempt to decrease the number of local COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, the Fourth of July holiday still brings a reason to celebrate for those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation.
Stesha Colby-Lynch served in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years. As a woman, she takes pride in her service, noting there was a time when women were not allowed to be Marines.
“The fact that when I went through bootcamp, I did the exact same thing that my male counterparts did, is phenomenal,” Colby-Lynch said.
While Veterans Day and Memorial Day conjure an emotional response from Colby-Lynch, she views the Fourth of July as a fun holiday. Although her family usually spends Independence Day tubing with friends on the San Marcos river, they will celebrate at home this year because of the pandemic.
As she prepares to celebrate, Colby-Lynch recognizes the challenges her country is facing, noting recent protests centered around the Black Lives Matter movement and the tragic death of Army soldier Vanessa Guillen. Discussing these national issues with her family, she supports the American practice of speaking out against injustice.
“Even now with protests, heck, I’m proud of that too because that is what our country was built on,” Colby-Lynch said. “I might not agree with a protest one way or another, but it’s our Constitutional right to protest when we see something that we feel is wrong.”
A family poses for a portrait during a citywide Fourth of July celebration at Woodlawn Lake in 2019. Photo: B. Kay Richter.
Appreciating Our Freedom
For Mike Hollon’s family, celebrating the Fourth of July is a family event.
“We have the folks over, do a little barbeque and celebrate them as well as our appreciation for the U.S. Armed Forces,” Hollon said.
After serving in the Air Force for 20 years, Hollon is now an Army Civilian working at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. His father served in the Army for 24 years and his son currently works as an Army scout.
“I just want everybody to think about … and appreciate the freedoms we have,” Hollon said. “I’m proud to be an American and I’m proud of everyone who serves our U.S. Armed Forces.”
An American flag is displayed outside a building located in Panama City Beach, Florida. Photo: Louie Preciado.
Celebrating Independence Day
Air Force Maj. David Alpar is the son of Hungarian immigrants. As a first-generation American, his family background influenced his decision to join the military.
“My parents came to this country for a reason and they wanted to instill in us why they came here and the reasons we should celebrate the United States on Independence Day,” Alpar said.
Alpar recently celebrated his nineteenth anniversary in the Air Force and currently works for the United States Space Command. He and his family now live in Colorado Springs, Colorado after recently being stationed in San Antonio for the second time.
Previously, he served as a trumpet player and conductor for the Air Force Band, using his passion for music to celebrate and honor the country he calls home.
As his family celebrates the Fourth of July during a national pandemic, political unrest and preparation for the upcoming presidential election, Alpar says his patriotism has only been strengthened.
“Our nation is not innocent,” Alpar said. “There are things in our past that were incredibly wrong and horrifically wrong, but one of the things that has made us great is that we’re able to overcome them.”
He hopes citizens of the United States will take a moment to celebrate the many possibilities the country provides this Independence Day. He believes the more committed people are to positive change, the more the nation will improve.
“We have a lot to do, but this country is the greatest place to get that done,” Alpar said.
Brigid Cooley is the editor-in-chief of The Mesquite, a student publication of Texas A&M - San Antonio. E-mail her at reporter@sasentinel.com.