Respectful Independence Day. Belated Respectful Canada Day.

For Canadian surfers: my wife serenaded my fire crew with the Canadian anthem at the fireworks show from Riverside Park in Buffalo on Canada Day.

Today I pay especial respect to the veterans of both Canada and the U.S. and to a Firefighter I worked with who passed away in a fire nine years ago on the Fourth of July. The fire was caused by a bottle rocket.

I lift my glass today and offer this toast to those who paid the ultimate price for freedom and to those who came home not the same way that they left.

I lift this glass and salute those who have fought to defend and protect our country and our U.S. Bill of Rights and Constitution.

I lift my glass to those who fight for justice and to save human life be they from Canada or the U.S.

To the right thing ...

"And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

Henry V by William Shakespeare

It looks like there will be no surf for us today but much time to celibrate and remember the holiday. There will be fireworks along the Niagara River tonight across from Fort Erie in Buffalo. This is part of the Canadian and U.S. Freindship Festival. Also there will surely be another fireworks show tonight in Niagara Falls.