ISLAND VOICES
Armed forces: This Fourth of July is Thanksgiving Day

By Cheryl Domzalski
Kane'ohe resident

A high-pitched, thunderous roar ripped through my tranquil serenity as I relaxed on my back patio. I quickly glanced up to see the underside of a Marine Corps fighter jet as it flew past and banked left, circling Kane'ohe Bay.

As I looked across the bay's colorful patchwork of deep blue, turquoise and light aquamarine, I could see a swirl of activity going on at Kane'ohe Marine Corps Air Station. Fighter jets, helicopters and planes of various sizes were buzzing around the landing strips as active as the beehive in my back yard.

I reflected on the times that the invasive roar of the military planes used to frustrate me on those rare occasions when I had the time to enjoy the peacefulness of my back yard, listening to the joyful chirping of birds and feeling the cool trade-wind breeze as a little bit of heaven on Earth. But when the planes flew overhead, those moments of solace were drowned out by the roar of their engines.

Today we live in a different time. Prior to Sept. 11, we never could have imagined that our own commercial airplanes could be used as weapons against our citizens. That the terrorism that we read about in other far-off places would suddenly be in our back yards.

The sounds and sights of the military planes that used to be an annoyance have now become a reassurance for me. Behind the buzz of activity that I observed across the bay are countless men and women preparing themselves for battles being waged on the other side of the world as well as to protect our homeland.

To me, they have become our "guardians in our sky," and I thank them for the sacrifices they are making and their willingness to serve and protect all of us.

As we celebrate our nation's Independence Day, let us remember that one of the reasons we have our freedom and independence is the brave men and women of our armed forces.