Families and soldiers joined us, as well as our American neighbors and some of their friends. Joel brought over some huge speakers and a sound system, and we filled the air with classic American music. Some people milled around talking, but most of us headed out to the volleyball court for some games. While much of the time was just trying to keep a volley going, we did play a couple "serious" games, with eating first being the stakes. Because, what is July 4th without a barbecue? We grilled brats and hamburgers and hot dogs and pork steaks on our hanging grill, and enjoyed fresh HUGE watermelons and potatoe salad and chips and all kinds of good American foods.
After lunch and several more games of volleyball, we loaded up into our caravan and headed for Kapoun Air Base over by Ramstein and Vogelweh. There was a carnival there, so we headed over and walked around enjoying the cotton candy and hot dogs there before settling down on a grassy hill to wait for fireworks. (The Air Force has more funding than the Army, so their pyrotechnic display promised to be more spectacular.) It was worth the drive and the wait! About half an hour of amazing fireworks, shot from the middle of a baseball field. We were close, and could feel the ground shake with some of the explosions. It was a great ending to a wonderful holiday. This is the first American Fourth of July I've had in the last 3 years, so it was a blast!
