Independence Day Celebration

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?  The age old philosophical question that came to mind as people asked us in email, on the phone and on face book if we, as Americans, celebrated July fourth, Independence Day, with the rest of America?  Well our answer is yes AND no.  We celebrated with a grand display of red, white and blue at the American Embassy in Delhi India.  All American passport holders and their immediate family members were invited to the American Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday, July 2 to celebrate American Independence Day. There was a formal ceremony with the Marin Corps Color Guard and even video recorded messages from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama.  For the kids there was a bouncy castle and face painters, (thanks to the nice volunteers who painted faces!), as well as a tug of war and pie eating contest for the older party goers. (Note: the winners of the pie eating contest were not very old.  Teamed with a friend, kid three enjoyed a gluten apple pie in a very short amount of time.)  There was music and a great band that performed.  At the end of the night we enjoyed the fireworks display put on right next to our gathering place.  It really was an awesome display of our red, white and blue, apple pie eating, American pride.  Thank you US Embassy New Delhi/ACSA www.acsaindia.com for the help in celebrating our Independence Day.  Although a few days before the rest of America really celebrated, is it truly the DAY or the concept of independence that we are celebrating anyway?