Fighting for Independence at any Age.

The 4th of July. Independence Day in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Independence. We sing about it at every major league baseball game and at public events. We march for it. We fight for it.

In my line of work as an elder care consultant and speaker on behalf of the causes of the elderly, I see our aging population fighting for independence every step of the way. They fiercely guard their independence to stay in their homes; to continue to drive the family car; and move about freely even though a frail, uncooperative physical body has other ideas and sets limits.

Just a small suggestion for families with aging parents who are struggling with issues about their elders staying at home and resisting outside help. Discuss the option of bringing in outside home care as a way to gain independence and freedom. It's an option of building in layers so that there is the possibility of staying at home versus having the loss of your familiar surroundings.

People celebrate gaining independence and new found freedoms in a variety of ways. Fellow speaker Amy Segami Basic hosts an annual sunrise celebration on the beach each 4th of July commemorating her joy of becoming a US citizen.

Celebrations for Independence Day come in the form of parades, fireworks, picnics and festivals. And ohhhhh do we love to march! As I returned home from errands today, I passed a group of four and five year old children marching in a parade with little patriotic red/white/blue hats. A great sight!

In the Lakeview neighborhood not too far from our house there is the WOOGMS march on every patriotic holiday. WOOGMS stands for the Wellington Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society. The society started 40 years ago with the theme "Everybody Marches." The participants are ambulatory - or not - on bicycles, tricycles, Radio Flyer Wagons, stilts, wheel chairs, unicycles, barefoot, four paws and strollers. If you can move, you can march! The Jesse White Tumblers usually lead the parade and the WOOGMS are now known nationally.

Guarding the independence of the United States is a generational honor. The greatest generation, as described by NBC news anchor and author Tom Brokow is the World War II generation. These are the octogenarians of today who left home as young men and women to defend our country when Pearl Harbor was bombed. My dad and my uncles all served in various branches of the service for our country during World War II.

When I asked my 89 year old uncle about the differences between the horror of Pearl Harbor and that of 9/11 he talked of several huge differences. He said that on that Sunday, December 7th, 1941, the news from Pearl Harbor came after the fact, delivered over the radio. My uncle told that after the news, his family members went to the book shelf to pull out the World Atlas and locate Hawaii. In 2002 on that fateful September 11th, we watched the horrific events unfold before our eyes through mass media, CNN and Internet.

Our veterans span many generations, but we have to be aware, and grateful for all the very young men and women who are defending our freedom. Prior to 9/11 my husband and I had the opportunity to ride along on a commissioning anniversary aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN -72), one of our country's nuclear aircraft carriers.

We were in awe of the 5,000 naval personnel on board. Average age 19 years old! In fact, as we departed from San Francisco several of the naval seaman who were returning from leave came aboard with skate boards under their arms after great rides on the streets of San Francisco.

Over this weekend, as you celebrate our country's birthday and independence, and you witness those fabulous fireworks as bombs bursting in air, say a little prayer for our heroes of all ages. Pray for those on the front lines, others working in mundane jobs, young people standing watch on air craft carriers, and veterans who paved the way so many years ago.

There is a certain irony in the weather forecast for this 4th of July. It's supposed to be a balmy 76 degrees. Pray too, for our forefathers who, in 1776, worked so hard to bring us to this celebration today!

Happy 4th of July!