Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), took time to reflect on Independence Day by holding a steel beach picnic and ice cream social, July 3.

"I think back to the revolution era and the patriots that fought against tyranny to give us our freedom we have today," Operations Specialist 2nd Class Cody J. Majorowski-Cabazuela, from San Angelo, Texas, explained. "We go through a lot of the same things they did, maybe different versions because they couldn't speak to their families for months or even years at a time, but being away from everything you've known to support and protect the ones you love for their independence."

Americans celebrated Independence Day by gathering with family and friends to partake in cookouts, fireworks, and of course honoring and celebrating the nation's proud colors of ol' red, white, and blue. The colors lit off in the sky amazed children, as well as adults, but hopefully reignited the flame of freedom that U.S. citizens should have to realize and appreciate what it means to truly be independent.

People across America should take time to remember what it means to be free. Independence gave us the freedoms we cherish. Families all over the country are currently missing fathers, mothers, spouses, daughters, sons, brothers and sisters who are currently fighting the same fight we have been fighting for almost 300 years, to maintain the freedom of democracy for our nation.

Hospitalman Jordan M. Smith, from St. Louis said, "July 4 is a day that every person should celebrate their freedom as Americans, but also remember and pray for those who stepped up when it was time to fight for this prospective nation and what they believed in."

Mason is part of the Eisenhower CSG in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The CSG includes USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON 26) and ships USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Monterey (CG 61), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Nitze (DDG 94) and Mason.

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For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil.