This year, as we celebrate our Independence Day with joyful explosions of fireworks and the noise of bands playing glorious music, our thoughts turn to the Middle East, and we think of those whose day will also have explosions and noise, but of a very different, and frightening, kind.

We celebrate our freedom and liberty, so dearly paid for by our forebears, at the same time we celebrate the new freedom of Iraq paid for, so dearly, by the lives of our soldiers and others committed to obtaining that independence.

We share the grief of families and friends of those who gave their lives for others, and hope the wounded will heal in every way: physically, mentally and spiritually.

As we celebrate our Independence Day, we hope that, soon, the Iraqi people will celebrate their newfound freedom in equally joyful ways.

One of the joyful sounds many members of our military hear lately are the welcoming voices of our Bangor International Airport Troop Greeters, as military planes stop for refueling while transporting troops to or from their next assignment.

Tom and Frankie Raney of Longview, Texas, “thank all the people and veterans” who, on Sunday, July 27, were at BIA “to greet the Marines as they arrived.”

On behalf of their Marine son, his wife and baby boy, the Raneys express their gratitude not only for the presence of the troop greeters, but also for the cell phones provided the Marines along with cookies, candy and “handshakes and pats on the back.”

“Our military has one of the most thankless jobs in the world,” the Raneys wrote, “but these Marine men and women do it with the honor, courage and commitment that the Marine Corps expounds.”

And then, they added, “Even if you don’t support the war over there, please continue to support our brave military with your prayers.”

Carlton and Ellen Higginbotham of Lucedale, Miss., wrote to thank troop greeters who met a chartered flight of soldiers headed to Iraq that included their son-in-law, U.S. Army Maj. Eric Fallon, returning for “his second tour since the beginning of the war.”

They quoted Maj. Fallon as saying of the greeters, “That was such a wonderful thing. These people are great Americans.”

The Higginbothams “express our heartfelt thanks” to those greeters for going “out of their way to express support for our soldiers, as they probably have done for others.

“We, as Americans,” the couple wrote, “should remember these young men and women who are defending our way of life.

“We must continue to support them, even if we agree or not with the politics of the war.”

In closing, the Higginbothams wrote, “This Southern couple would like to salute the kind people of Bangor, Maine, who made the departure of our loved one from his home, wife and three kids, just a little bit easier.”

The Maine Korean War Veterans Inc. Burton-Goode-Sargent Chapter of Bangor has announced that George McCann of LaGrange is its new president, serving with vice-president Theodore Robinson of Newport.

The officers, who have been members of the chapter since its formation in 1992, were elected during the chapter’s June meeting.

The group organized to build a memorial at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor honoring 223 Maine men who were killed or declared missing in action during the 1950-53 war.

More than 12 names have been added to the original memorial, and 600 walkway stones laid as a tribute to veterans of other wars.

The chapter meets the second Monday of each month and participates in all veterans’ activities, according to the announcement. Veterans who served anywhere during the 1950-53 period are also considered Korean War veterans.

If you would like more information about this organization, the memorial or the walkway stones, call secretary Marge Eckert, 825-3722.

Since Independence Day is Sunday, for many people Monday is a holiday, which means a long, three-day weekend or, perhaps, the beginning of a vacation.

As you travel to your destination or celebration, please drive defensively.

Please use caution in, on or around the water, in the woods or wherever you are, and do all you can to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.