Horry County veterans reflect on freedom’s meaning beyond July 4th celebrations

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — For civilians, the Fourth of July means barbeques, flags, parades, enjoying a few cold drinks, and watching fireworks light up the night sky.

But for many Horry County veterans, there’s a much deeper meaning behind it.

“To me, freedom is being with family and friends and just being able to live our lives,” Air Force veteran Lynette Querciagrossa said.

“It’s everything. It’s our freedom. It’s what we’ve been fighting for,” Army veteran Dennis Paul said. “I mean, we get to go out to parades, we get to go to the beaches, enjoy a good day with family and friend’s cookouts. I mean, it’s all about freedom.”

“My ability to go out and do, within the law, just about anything I want,” Air Force veteran George Kahl said. “Being able to drive, being able to go shopping and stuff is there, and travel, that’s what freedom is to me.”

For many local veterans, freedom is more than a historical concept. It’s a living reality, deeply influenced by their service.

“We were trying to combat tyranny,” Kahl said. “We didn’t want to live under a king. We didn’t want to be subjects. We wanted to be free.”

“I went in because, I guess it was something to do,” Querciagrossa said. “But as I was in, I realized more that I was there for making sure I kept my family and friends safe and secure and free.”

One Navy veteran said he never fully realized the impact his service would have until just recently.

“I was fortunate enough not to be drafted, but that was my own freewill,” Ronald Kocheran said. “I decided to go a different way. It meant a lot to me, but as a 22-year-old, I didn’t think that much about it.”

For them, the Fourth of July is a reminder of the sacrifices made, the battles fought, and the comrades lost.

“Sometimes, you wonder if you could have done more. But you can only do so much,” Kahl said. “Then, when you come back, you can only do so much.”

The Fourth of July is a time to reflect on the true cost of freedom and honor those who have dedicated their lives to protecting it.

“Most people, I think, take it for granted and do not realize what we have,” Querciagrossa said. “I mean, it’s a beautiful country, there’s so much to see. There’s so much history being wiped away, and that’s sad, too.”

Our veterans have stood on the front lines, defending the liberties many Americans often take for granted.

“You just don’t really realize how many people gave their lives to keep us free,” Querciagrossa said.

“Live the best,” Paul said. “I mean, you have that freedom right now. We have no idea what the future holds.”

On this Independence Day, let us honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, who remind us that the fight for freedom continues.

Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here .

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