Story and photos
By Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS

Green Beret medic Sgt. Gregory Stube speaks to the crowd during the City of Spartanburg’s Red, White, and Boom celebration on Saturday, July 3.
The Spartanburg tradition of Red, White and Boom again proved a powerful draw for patriotic Upstate Citizens as thousands flocked to Barnet Park on Saturday, July 3 for the annual celebration.
This year the City of Spartanburg took over the event and it was a good old-fashioned celebration of our nation’s independence complete with The Palmetto Statesmen, a barbershop chorus and quartet, the Spartanburg Community Jazz Band and the Spartanburg Community Band, and plenty of American flags.
Young and old, black and white, rich and poor all came out to celebrate the fact that they are Americans living in the best country in the world.
Children’s rides, ice cream, deep fried Oreo’s and other tasty treats helped everyone enjoy the festivities until the grand finale fireworks show had all oohing and ahhing as the fireworks lit up the downtown sky.
While the fireworks are always the highlight of any Independence Day celebration, it was the words of Green Beret medic Sgt. Gregory Stube, who was wounded in Afghanistan in 2006, that reverberated most deeply.
Stube stated he was honored to represent members of the military when he learned he was chosen to speak to those gathered at Red, White, and Boom.
He stated while the day usually honors the military, he said if it wasn’t for the folks at home who value their freedom and exercise their right to vote “there wouldn’t be anything worth fighting for.”
Stube spent more than a year recovering from his wounds but has no regrets. He noted since we gained our independence from Great Britain in 1776 “protecting our freedom has been costly and it’s taken many of our best men and women but it’s worth fighting for.”
Linda Brittner of Spartanburg was enjoying the festivities and was proudly waving a small U.S. flag while loudly and proudly singing the national anthem. She explained she was out to celebrate those who have given her the freedom to do as she wishes.
Brittner also explained it was a way to honor the sacrifice of her father who died while serving in World War II as well as her son who served.
For more local news and events, see this week’s Spartanburg County News.