Today Americans will join together to celebrate the Red, White and Blue. From backyard BBQ’s to watching fireworks light up the night sky, we’ll unite as a nation to commemorate our Independence.

Each year we must remember that throughout history during uncertain times, we have been able to come together and unite for justice, peace, equality, wellness and love for all. This time is no different. This Independence Day, let all Americans not forget that what unites us are our differences and it’s our differences that make us stronger. They make us a nation, they make us Americans!

One of the most well known excerpts from the Declaration of Independence reminds us of the groundwork for our civic responsibility and sets the foundation for citizenship that Americans must uphold.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson

We as citizens, should live by these words and never forget how they brought us together and will continue to do so as a nation.

This day and every day forward we stand united!

From our Military Life News family to you and yours, we wish you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Many families shared they are looking forward to gathering with neighbors and friends for a cookout. All the usual yummies are there – hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, watermelon, and dessert. Some even splurge with rubs and BBQ!  

Military families worldwide shared the way they celebrate the Fourth of July this year.

Neighborhood Gathering

Another shared that they have continued the tradition of a bike parade at each new neighborhood with each move. That once started as a tradition on one coast has now continued to and traveled with them, sparking tradition on multiple bases.

Seeking Out Adventure

Some planned special adventures for the fourth of July. Out camping to a National Park on the bucket list or taking the camper out to a favorite campground to get away, explore a new place and really enjoy time together with family or friends. Take out the new camper to a local destination to see how it drives. Several campgrounds have their own July 4^th celebrations with fireworks, meaning no traffic and easy enjoyment from the camper.

Others shared their adventures, including theme parks, to enjoy their celebrations. Places like Legoland California have fireworks show earlier in the day, perfect for younger kids and parents who want to see and experience fireworks but also want to be in bed nearer regular bedtime.

On Post Celebration

Those local to their military base shared that they made it out to their base celebration. “We always have a fun time.” One spouse shared. On-base activities vary across bases from a kid-friendly festival to a beachside concert, varying on the post location.

Checking Out the Nation’s Capital

Some families feel the pull to be in and explore Washington DC. The Memorial Day concert that airs on PBS is amazing in person, but you have to get there early. Seeing the fireworks on the mall being framed by the Washington Monument is an amazing sight. A once in a lifetime opportunity for some, and for those stationed in the National Capital Region, taking in the America’s birthday in America’s capital is a major bucket list item.

In A Hotel

Many military families, ours included again this year, are spending the Fourth in a hotel. They are looking for places to call home at their new duty station or simply waiting for their new home to be available. There won’t be a neighborhood gathering or visits with friends as they are brand new to the base/area and don’t know anyone. It is a reality that military families experience every 1-3 years, so I know we aren’t alone.

One family shared they intentionally checked into a hotel with a nice view to enjoy the fireworks without having to find a parking space or a spot early. She shared that they know the area well, and staying at the hotel with the patio and view of fireworks is something they enjoy doing.  

Staying Home

While some want to avoid the crowds, the travel, the traffic and just stay home to enjoy time with family. That doesn’t mean yummy treats aren’t enjoyed, and the Memorial Day Concert can be enjoyed – but this time on television and not in the heat or fighting for parking.

Favorite Eats

It is no surprise that favorite dishes shared were all red, white and blue. When you live the military life, with deployments and work-ups and waking up to morning colors, the red, white and blue becomes a part of you.

No Bake Red, White and Blue Cheesecake

Ingredients:

-15 graham crackers (makes about 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs)

– 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted

– 2-3 TBL granulated sugar

– pinch of salt

– 2- 8 ounce blocks of cream cheese at room temperature

– 1 cup Greek Yogurt

– 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

– 1 cup heavy cream, whipped

– I cup of fresh strawberries and 1 cup of fresh blueberries

Instructions:

Like all great no-bake cheesecakes, this one starts with a graham cracker crust. If you aren’t using premade, add about 15 full graham crackers to a plastic bag and let out that stress with a rolling pin on the sealed bag. Mix the graham crackers, a pinch of salt and 2-3 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Mix in one melted stick of butter. Press the graham mix into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

In an electric mixer, beat 2- 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese until fluffy. Slowly add in confectioners’ sugar, yogurt, vanilla and another pinch of salt. Mix until well combined and smooth. Slowly fold in the whipped heavy cream. Once combined, pour this mixture over the graham cracker crust and smooth over the top.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, overnight preferred.

Once ready to serve, pop the cheese cake out of the springform pan and top with the berries. You can change from strawberries to raspberries or even mix in blackberries with the blueberries. The key is to have the red, white and blue represented in this delicious desert.

Triple Berry Angel Food Cake Roll

Another easy, no bake desert featuring the classic red, white and blue. It can be made from scratch, or utilize the shortcut in store bought angel food cake or use angel food cake mix. We went the angel food cake mix way, because time-savers are key and for those military families living in a hotel with a minimal kitchen, this can still be done.

Ingredients:

• 1 Angel Food cake Mix
• ¼ cup and ¾ cup powdered sugar
• One 8 ounce block of cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 and ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 ½ cups strawberries diced
• 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
• 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Prepare the cake mix according to the instructions. Pour into the rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes. Watch it to ensure the top is slightly golden and no cracks in the center.

Loosen the cake from the pan when it is still warm so the cake can come away easily.

Onto a kitchen towel, sprinkle ¼ cup of powdered sugar. Flip the warm cake onto the towel and peel off the parchment paper. Roll up the cake with the towel inside and let cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours.

While the cake roll is cooling, beat the cream cheese with ¾ cup powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream together until fluffy and forming stiff peaks.

Unroll the cooled cake and spread half the filling and half the berries, roll up the cake. Spread the cream filling on top and top with remaining berries. Serve and enjoy!

Caprese Skewers with Blueberries

Caprese skewers take three ingredients: cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella balls. On the skewers, alternate tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. Add a pop of blue color to the top of the skewer to complete the red, white and blue.

What is your favorite way to spend the fourth? What recipe do you have to have for the celebration?

1. Check for Local Freebies: Some libraries offer summer programs with coupons for local museums or even free treat coupons if you read several books for a few minutes.  Going out for free frozen yogurt or even checking out a new-to-you museum is a fun and cool way to enjoy the warmer weather together. Some local museums offer free admission on holidays like Memorial Day or July 4^th.
2. Local parks: Check out local city or state parks for free fun. Check the local website for a list of hikes recommended for different age groups. There may even be a summer events calendar – free water play day, teen park meetup day, or even a free movie in the park. If you are new to the area, ask the local neighborhood group.
3. Eat outside: Speaking of parks, why not have a change of scenery for lunch or dinner and have it outside? Pack up sandwiches or your favorite snacks, and go enjoy them on a blanket outside. Don’t forget the bug spray.
4. Playgrounds: Don’t be afraid to take kids of any age to the park. Let’s face it, being an adult on the swings is an enjoyable experience. Take the time to check out your local park, or even pack everyone up to check out a new one.
5. Fly a kite: If you don’t have one at home, consider making one Mary Poppins style. Maybe even sing Let’s Go Fly A Kite while doing it.
6. Camp Out in the Backyard: Gather up sheets, pillows, and blankets and make it a night under the stars.
7. Stargazing: Not wanting to camp out all night? Check out a stargazing book from the library and search the sky for constellations.
8. Go for a Nature Walk: Download the free app Seek and for a walk. Learn about the local plants and insects that inhabit the area. It may even give ideas for your own garden and inspire.
9. Art Day: After a nature walk, go home and draw some of what you saw. Or what you would like to plant if you had a garden space.
10.  Geocache: This free activity provides a fun way to get everyone involved on a hike or walk nearby. Start by creating a free account here to find discoveries and start to come up with ideas on what to leave behind.
11. Bubble Battle: You don’t have to buy a bubble solution; make it at home! Mix two cups of dish soap, two tablespoons of baking powder, two tablespoons of corn starch and four tablespoons of corn syrup with half a gallon of water. This will make the bubbles thicker. Bubbles are best if the solution sits overnight. Use rope, string, or old bubble wands to blow bubbles. See how far they can go or who can make the largest one. This will provide fun for those of all ages.
12.  Backyard Play: Get everyone involved in developing a family play. Perhaps Shakespeare or a family-written play. Set up a stage with sheets. Make costumes with what you have at home. This could take all day or several days depending on the depth of the play. Learning, reading, writing, and enjoying time together is a fun way. Plus, it’s all free!
13.  Scavenger Hunt: Make your own scavenger hunt in your home or backyard. You can expand it to include the neighbors or community if others are interested. Make up hints and hide items or make it about exploring the community.
14. Birdwatching: Download the free app from the Audubon Society to learn about the local birds. Hang out in a park or watch from your backyard.
15. Free Local Events: Check out your local city page for free outdoor movies, concerts or events. Sometimes local theaters offer free or cheaper performances during the day, specifically geared toward children who may not sit as well through a three-hour performance. Free outdoor movies are popular in local parks, and usually, the city website or library has this list of activities online available for review.
16. Library Day: Make it a date at the library. Sit in the air conditioning and check out new books to read. Maybe get a travel book in your area to do some hometown exploration.
17. Farmers Market: While not free, this is a cheaper outing and supports local farmers and artisans. There may even be free samples. Oftentimes, the markets are accompanied by live entertainment. If you are new to an area, this is a great way to really get out and learn about what an area offers.
18. Walk It Out: Make it a goal as a family to hit a certain number of steps a day or maybe a certain distance. If it is hot and humid where you are, plan for an early morning or an evening walk together. This is totally free and provides a planned time to be together, all while getting some cardiovascular exercise!
19. Family Cooking Challenge: While not free, use what you have at home to come up with meal plans for the week. Take turns who is cooking, ensuring the little ones have help, and make it a cooking challenge that can be the most creative or flavorful. Bonus that it takes the guesswork out of who is making dinner and what is for dinner each night.
20. Family Movie Night: Pick a movie from the streaming services or a DVD you have, and make it a plan to have movie night one night. Plan out snacks, set up comfy chairs, and make it special. Have a projector? Take the movie night outside, weather permitting.
21. Family Game Night: All those board games sitting in the closet? Pick a night a week or so to plan a game night. Don’t have access to your board games? Check to see if the local library has a section to borrow, or maybe a neighbor will loan you games!
22.  Summer Reading Programs: While not for adults, kids can participate in the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program and the Pizza Hut Camp Book It! Program. These programs have age and grade limits, so make sure you know what they are. The Barnes and Noble program allows children to pick out a free book, and the Pizza Hut program gives coupons for personal pan pizzas – just like when we were kids!
23. Sidewalk Chalk Adventures: Everyone in the family gets a piece of chalk or two to make masterpieces. Draw out hopscotch to play together. Draw out the scenery on the driveway. Bonus that the neighbors or passersby will also enjoy the drawings.
24. Virtual Adventures: Look for online virtual adventures. The San Diego Zoo has live cameras on various animals in the zoo, where you can watch and enjoy. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has live cameras too, and some are set to music for pure visual and audio ambiance. Home Depot offers virtual field trips talking about plants, and various ideas, including Backyard Ideas for kids and how to build a birdhouse.
25. Plan Ahead: Make a plan for the fall on things to do. Check out the library for books if you want to travel. If you need to budget for that travel, get the family involved – maybe it is time to sell some outgrown kids’ clothes, and that money can be given to the kids for spending money. Or maybe you want to declutter for the fall and winter, and it’s time to make some larger donations of goods to a local charity. Summer is all about time off, relaxation, and breaks, but it is also a good time to plan ahead for the fall and winter seasons. Don’t forget to look out for tax-free school supply days, state-dependent, when you can purchase school supplies, kids’ clothes, and even electronics without tax to save money for the upcoming season.

These are twenty-five free or cheap things to do this summer. Which ones will you do?

PCS season means that about one-third of military service members and their families will crisscross the nation and travel around the world to their new duty stations this year. Most of these moves happen in the summer, and if you are moving in May or June this year, then you will be spending July 4^th in a new town and city. Take this opportunity to get out and embrace your new home on July 4^th.

Jump In!

Once arriving at your new duty station, ask around for what there is to do on July 4^th.  Ask the hotel manager if you are staying a hotel while waiting for housing or ask your new neighbor if you were lucky enough to do a door to door. Check out local neighborhood social media pages or check a neighborhood community board. Find out about local happenings for the month of July – there might even be a neighborhood potluck. While you may not have all your household goods to fully participate in the potluck, consider grabbing some precut fruit or veggies to bring so you can meet the neighbors. Chances are those neighbors can give you the inside scoop on the house you just moved into, and into the area. This is your chance to learn from people who may have been residents for years – who are the best dentists, medical providers, daycares, and babysitters are.

Get Local

Beyond your neighborhood, check to see if there are local happenings at your local library. Perhaps there is a kid’s craft event, or a special book sale for the 4^th of July. Maybe there is a big end of the summer reading program kickoff coming up, and you will want to check it out to familiarize yourself and your family with what library programming is offered.

Local museums sometimes due special admission tickets for the July 4^th weekend – check them out as a way to learn what is offered in your area to make the best “duty station bucket list” possible.

Parade!

If your new town is having a parade, make it a priority to go. The parade typically showcases local businesses who actively support the area and is a great example of the community spirit. There may be a boy scout troop walking, so you note that in your phone for later.  There may be amazing bands showcased that you want to check out later, or maybe even a float with a symphony that you didn’t know was around town – but now you do so you can add it to your bucket list! The parade itself is a great way to take a break from unpacking and organizing, spend time together, and learn a little about the area.

Fireworks!

As long as no one has issues with loud sounds, this is a great way to get free entertainment for the family and get out of the chaos that is moving. If you have a family member who does not enjoy the loud sounds, make sure to know when and where it is so you can avoid any of these noises. The last thing anyone in a stressed out, PCS family needs is another reason to be stressed out.

Grow Roots

If you jump into the festivities once arriving, this helps your family plug in and put down roots early. The military can move military service members at any time, and while the family can opt to stay put, if you move as a family unit each time it is important to plug in as soon as possible. The July 4^th holiday is a great time to jump in as there are typically many different types or events to choose from, and you can take your pick at what suits you and your family’s needs.

If you are moving this summer, or perhaps it is your first summer at your new duty station, it is time to jump in and find those fun July 4^th events! Building connections with your community is a great way to get plugged in, and quickly.

Did you get a pay change in January of 2023? Then you may have qualified for the basic needs allowance (BNA). January 2023 is when the basic needs allowance was implemented for service members with dependents who completed initial training and whose gross household income falls below 130% of federal poverty guidelines.

It is no shock that with rising inflation and rising home and rental prices across the nation, it is not surprising that the military is looking for ways to provide basics to their service members. Many of these families are military service members.  The Basic Needs Allowance is a supplemental monthly payment for service members with at least one dependent who is registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS. In order to qualify, the service members’ gross household income in the previous year and the current year’s annualized gross income falls below 130% of federal poverty guidelines. The poverty level is not one specific number but is calculated by the number of people in the family. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 130 percent of the poverty line for a family of three is $2495 a month, or about $29,940 a year. More people in the family means that the annual income could be higher overall, but they still meet the poverty level guideline.

Each military service branch reviews each service member to determine if there is eligibility. Each service branch also has applications for Basic Needs Allowance. If you or someone you know is looking to apply for Basic Needs Allowance, ask your administrative shop or unit leaders for the application process.

The amount of allowance is to cover the difference between wages to the poverty guideline. For example, if a service member’s income is $300 below 130% of the federal poverty guideline, they would receive $300. This income is considered taxable. Because it is taxable income, it may affect eligibility for other programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Before applying for BNA, service members are encouraged to talk to base groups like New Parent Support, who may be able to help determine its effects.

This allowance will be approved annually, so to continue to receive it year after year, service members must reapply. If the family size changes, a PCS occurs, or a raise occurs, the eligibility will be re-evaluated.

It is noted on the DFAS page that BNA is optional. Service members can not apply or also decline the allowance.

Specific service contact information:

• Navy – https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/Pay-Benefits/NC/
• Marine Corps – https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/MPO/pages_compensation
• Air Force – Contact the Total Force Service Center, email: afpc.dp1ssb.specialpays@us.af.mil
• Coast Guard: email: Compensation@USCG.mil
• Army: no current contact information available