Mt. Vernon residents honor vets on July 4th

More than 100 people gathered on the Fourth of July for a ceremony in Mount Vernon to honor veterans and to remember troops who are still serving the country abroad. The celebration at St. Paul?s Church

News 12 Staff

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Jul 4, 2008, 10:45 PM

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Updated 6,018 days ago

More than 100 people gathered on the Fourth of July for a ceremony in Mount Vernon to honor veterans and to remember troops who are still serving the country abroad.

The celebration at St. Paul?s Church featured music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a 13-bell salute in honor of the original 13 colonies.

?July 4th to me is a representation of the freedom that America enjoys,? says John Fava, a veteran. ?It?s another day for people to get together and pay a little respect.?

For Tyron Johnson, this year?s Independence Day is special because it marks the fifth year since his original deployment to Iraq.

?We still got brothers and sisters still fighting for us abroad,? Johnson says.

War veterans hope that sponsoring events like Friday?s commemoration ceremony will ensure that future generations will never forget the sacrifices they have made for freedom.