Good reasons to celebrate the Fourth of July

I was born and raised for the first half of my life in the capital of India. My birth country was recovering from one war as my parents brought me into this world when, a couple of years later, it had to engage in another war with a neighboring country.

My younger sister was born in blackout conditions amid air-raid sirens and, more than three decades later, I still remember that journey from hospital to home like it happened yesterday. My entire pre-teen and teen years were spent being in a perpetual state of alertness, always looking out for (and sometimes ducking from) terrorists' crude homemade bombs left on the public buses, transistors, dolls and pretty much anything.

My sister and I survived those dreadful years, but some of my closest friends did not.

Patriotism ran high during my early years and I believe those experiences contributed significantly to the making of who I am today. I am an American citizen now and America is my country by choice.

As I watch my adoptive country being torn apart by two different wars, I am reminded of my early years and the solace and inner strength I used to find from some of my favorite patriotic songs. On this Fourth of July, I share a slightly amended version of one particularly poignant song that I grew up chanting from the bottom of my heart and soul.

While the translated version does not rhyme at all, it is my hope that the message it conveys is not lost. I do so to honor the memory of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country. Only because of courageous people like them are we able to continue celebrating our Independence Day year after year.

O good people of my country

Let us all celebrate our

independence day

And on this blessed day, let us go out

And wave our flags and watch the fireworks

But don't forget that on the battle fronts

Brave soldiers have lost their lives

Take the time to remember those ...

Remember those who never came back home

..........Who never came back home.

O the good people of my country

I hope your eyes well up with tears

As you pause to remember the

sacrifice

Of those who have died for our

freedom

When our country was wounded

And freedom was in grave danger

To their last breath they fought

Then finally laid down their lives

While keeping us free and secure

They made the ultimate sacrifice

As you pause to remember the sacrifice

Of those who have died for our freedom

When the country was celebrating Fourth of July

They were fighting in the

battleground

And while we were all watching

fireworks

They were facing a hail of bullets

We are blessed for these soldiers

of ours

We are blessed for the lives they have lived

As you pause to remember the

sacrifice

Of those who have died for our

freedom

Whether black or white or any race

Whether Christian or Jew or any religion

Every single brave soul who died in the battlefield

Was first and foremost an American

The blood that was spilled in the wars

That blood was American through and through

As you pause to remember the sacrifice

Of those who have died for our freedom

Even though their bodies were bloodied

Still they continued to fight for our freedom

Each soldier killed multiple enemies

Then ultimately fell down unconscious

As their end time came nearer

They quietly whispered "It's time for us to go"

Stay Happy, our beloved

countrymen and women

Stay Happy, our beloved

countrymen and women

As we now embark upon a new

journey

As we now embark upon a new

journey

Oh how passionate these soldiers were!

Oh how proud people these soldiers were!

As you pause to remember the

sacrifice

Of those who have died for our

freedom

Lest you dare forget their sacrifices

That's why this story was written

As you pause to remember the

sacrifice

Of those who have died for our

freedom

God Bless our fallen heroes

God Bless our Armed Forces

And God Bless the United States

of America

-- Rajat Jain is a Gardnerville resident.