Independence Day.
July 4th.
We think they're one and the same. One of the greatest, if not the greatest sportscaster of all time, Vin Scully, begs to differ, however.
On radio stations throughout this great nation this weekend on the occasion of America's 246th birthday, Scully will explain his reasoning in a 1-minute, 44-second message titled "The Difference Between July 4th and Independence Day."
First penned by Bob Harris, executive director of the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation, Scully immediately fell in love with the text and told Harris, "Let's record this right now," according to a news release from the veterans group.
At a time when we are so divided and at odds on so many fronts, it seems a perfect reminder that what's good and just and unique about the United States far outweighs her faults.
And Scully has more reason than most to appreciate the true meaning of the Fourth of July holiday. The 94-year-old broadcast icon served two years in the Navy near the end of World War II before becoming the matchless voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for 66 years - the Guinness World Record for longest career as a sports broadcaster for a single team.
Nor does Scully want to stop these messages with his Independence Day offering. As he added in the release in discussing why he'd like to repeat this effort for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day and the like: "What if we recorded a series of public service announcements like this one, reminding people of the meaning behind every major American holiday? They don't teach this stuff in school as much as they should - some people just look at these holidays as a day off of work."
Good point. So without further ado, herewith the transcript from "The Difference Between July 4th and Independence Day":
"Friends, this is Vin Scully reminding you there's a difference between July 4th and Independence Day.
"A long time ago, a brave group of people risked everything to formally declare America's independence. It was the moment that our belief in a fair democracy resulted in a declaration of independence. It was the moment that the greatest nation on earth was born, and it just happened to fall on July 4th, 1776.
"Today we take July 4th as a national holiday complete with flags and parades, fireworks and apple pie. But as much as we're thrilled by the fireworks and parades, please take a moment to remember who and what we're thankful to be celebrating.
"It's not just a date on a calendar. It's the bravery and vision of (Thomas) Jefferson, (Benjamin) Franklin, (John) Adams and more than 50 others who made America an independent nation on that day. And that's why the fireworks are brighter and the apple pie is sweeter - because it's Independence Day."
Scully has worked before with the GCVF, which is known for rescuing military veterans from homelessness. But this recording and the others he hopes to make go beyond reaching out to a single group in need of material help to helping all of us in need of a better understanding of what it has taken to give us the country we have today.
"I hope my peers in sports, entertainment, and public life will embrace this opportunity to put the meaning back into these holidays," he noted. "I'm proud to make it part of my own legacy for the future."
Maybe, just maybe, these recordings will make us more proud to be Americans every day of the year, and not just Independence Day.
Mark WiedmerContact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @TFPWeeds.