SEATTLE — On the Fourth of July, friends and family are convening across the Puget Sound for festivities under fireworks-filled skies.
Joe Palombo attended Seafair's annual event at Gas Works Park with his family. He called the holiday, a "good reflection day of all the things we take for granted.”
These things were hard-fought for by America's servicemen and women, as U.S. veteran Charlie Gilmore reminded KING 5 this week.
"It's another Memorial Day for us, because we've seen those who have laid their life on the line," said Gilmore.
He said that on this holiday, he often cherishes the memory of a friend and fallen soldier: a Tacoma man named Sgt. William Spencer, who would have been 54 years old this year.
"That's all he ever talked about was his mom and sister in Tacoma, Washington," said Gilmore.
In 2010, Spencer died while overseas with the Washington National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gilmore, a Mississippi man, served beside Spencer because Spencer volunteered to stay for another tour to provide valuable wisdom to other National Guardsmen on the ground.
"He was willing to lay it all on the line for anybody he served with. He could be a father figure one moment, and he could be a brother in another moment," said Gilmore.
This holiday, Gilmore hopes his fellow Americans honor the ones who've made the ultimate sacrifice by living "life to the fullest," and "without regret."
Gilmore even has Spencer's name tattooed on his leg.
"If it weren't for Spencer, there was probably a handful of us that would have probably had died, and we're very thankful for that," he said. "The Fourth of July, to me ... [it is to] recognize those who had sacrificed their life, and at the same time, ask yourself, 'How can we honor them?'"
As people in Seattle got ready to watch the fireworks Thursday, they shared with KING 5 what the holiday means to them.
Joe's youngest daughter, Reese Palombo, said, "It’s America’s birthday and I like the fireworks!"
Parker Palombo, Joe's other daughter, a fourth-grader, said, "I mean, there’s a lot more freedoms than there is in other countries."
Their mother echoed that sentiment. "Choices to make their own decisions," said Erin Palombo.
At a separate fireworks viewpoint in Queen Anne, another mother named Rachel Fleming said, "We can vote for who we want to be in office. And we can do a lot of things that we'd like to do."
Ultimately, a sense of gratitude for America became a common answer — just like Gilmore said he hoped for.
Parker added, "It means freedom.”