The 4th of July is one of the most significant holidays in American history as it established that the British were no longer in control of the colonies. The Declaration of Independence paved the way for America to grow as it’s own country.
Independence Day, in the United States, the annual celebration of nationhood held on July 4. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This document announced the separation of the 13 North American colonies from Great Britain. In 1870 the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal workers, and in 1938 it became a paid federal holiday. Also called the Fourth of July, the holiday is celebrated across the United States with parades, fireworks shows, picnics, concerts, and other festivities. Independence Day is also notable for its displays of patriotism, as many Americans commemorate the day by flying the American flag and dressing in the flag’s colors of red, white, and blue.
Memorial Day is celebrated in many ways but let’s not forget what the meaning of the holiday is about. It’s a day to honor service members who gave their lives for our country, that means you and me. As you enjoy the long weekend, please remember the service members who gave their all.
Memorial Day honors fallen military personnel while celebrating their legacy.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. dedicated to honoring military personnel who lost their lives in service to the country
The holiday originated after the Civil War, evolving to encompass all U.S. wars, and is observed on the last Monday of May each year
While often associated with barbecues and gatherings, the true essence of Memorial Day lies in remembrance and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice
A disturbing issue for US service members
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday that’s supposed to be about mourning the nation’s fallen service members, but it’s come to anchor the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of travel and discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers.
Iraq War veteran Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr. said the day has lost so much meaning that many Americans “conflate and mix up Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, July Fourth.” Social media posts pay tribute to “everyone” who has served, when Memorial Day is about those who died.
For him, it’s about honoring 17 U.S. service members he knew who lost their lives.
“I was either there when they died or they were soldiers of mine, buddies of mine,” said Martinez, 48, an Army veteran who lives in Katy, Texas, west of Houston. “Some of them lost the battle after the war.”
From what I’ve seen over the past 20 years, he is correct.
The freedoms we enjoy today are because of the brave men and women who made a commitment to fight for our country through thick and thin and died defending us.
Christmas is my favorite holiday without a doubt. When I was little it was all about the gifts, now my focus is on Jesus Christ. Sure, gifts are nice but that is not why I celebrate.
Let’s see what type of party music I can curate at 61 years old, don’t expect current music because I don’t know any. Maybe we’ll call this an oldies music party. :)
As we approach several holidays mocktails are great for those who chose not to drink.
Here are a few great recipes
Photo by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels.com
Lemongrass Ginger Mockito
INGREDIENTS
3/4 lime – halved lengthwise then cut into 6
1/2 lemongrass – finely sliced
1 tbsp ginger syrup
1 tsp soft light brown sugar
2 mint sprigs
80-100ml apple juice
crushed ice
mint sprigs
lemongrass slices
2 straws
DIRECTIONS
Add the lime pieces, lemongrass slices, ginger syrup, and sugar to a sturdy highball glass or a cocktail shaker. Muddle until the sugar has dissolved and the aromas are released. Add the mint leaves and muddle a bit more.
Add half of the apple juice. Stir.
Fill up with the crushed ice and the rest of the apple juice. Combine until well mixed.
Add the straws, mint, and lemongrass slices.
Enjoy!
Jasmine Ginger Iced Green Tea Recipe
1 wedge lime 4 ounces *brewed jasmine green tea, chilled 4 ounces ginger beer, chilled (I used Gosling’s) Garnishes: Fresh sliced strawberries and additional lime wedges
Fill a glass with ice cubes. Squeeze the juice of a lime wedge over the ice and drop the lime wedge into the glass. Add the chilled green tea and ginger beer; stir gently. Garnish with strawberries and additional lime wedges.
Makes 1 drink
Virgin Pina Colada
Here are the ingredients in a virgin piña colada recipe:
Frozen pineapple
Coconut milk
Maple syrup
Throw these in a blender, and you’ve got a tasty signature drink in no time. Except you need one last required item…drink umbrellas!
Green Russian
Brilliant green matcha makes this healthy mocktail creamy and comforting. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants and features a little caffeine kick.
We recommend using plant-based milk as the foundation for your Green Russian. This renders the drink accessible to those not consuming dairy, but it also allows the matcha to shine; milk proteins can block the absorption of matcha’s beneficial compounds.
Ingredients – makes 2 mocktails
2 ½ cups plant-based milk
Tip: Use a richer, fuller plant milk, such as cashew, macadamia, or barista-grade oat milk.
1 ½ tablespoons matcha powder
2 oz cold coffee
Tip: Try to use cold-brew coffee. Since we’re only using a little bit, you’ll want your flavor to be as full as possible. Alternatively, mushroom coffee can be used to achieve an earthy taste and add nutritional benefits.
2 tablespoons sugar or other sweetener
1 pinch cacao powder (optional)
1 cup ice
Directions
Warm 2 cups of your milk over low heat. Add the sugar and stir. Next, add the matcha powder and stir until fully dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.
Next, add ice to your glasses. Once the matcha mixture has cooled, pour it into the glasses. Add a quarter cup of the remaining milk to each glass. Pour a splash of cold coffee on top of the milk for a beautiful combination of colors and flavors. Dust the mocktail’s top with cacao powder for added glamor (and superfood power). Serve and enjoy!
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