Donating blood to give back to America

06:48 PM CDT on Monday, July 4, 2005

By Dan Lauck / 11 News

Click to watch video

Since the September 11th attacks, the sale of American flags has boomed and the sale of yellow ribbons blossomed.

KHOU-TV

The people who seemed to be most fulfilled by the events of the day were those giving their own blood.

But when it comes to giving back to freedom, nothing is better than a pint of yourself.

All the familiar faces were there -- Uncle Sam, Miss Liberty.

In Bellaire, they had a party in the park.

The music was good enough to dance to, even if you couldn't get out of your seat. There was something for everyone. Leaping frogs, leaping kids, bikes and four-wheelers decked out with flags and streamers and bunting.

Everything was red, white and blue, of course, even the tattoos.

"All patriotic type things. USA. I love America, you know, firework type stuff. Red, white and blue, basically," said Alex Schroller, Bellaire resident.

The Fourth of July is a day when Americans stop long enough to recognize how blessed they are to be here and how different their lives would be if they weren't.

Many of us want to gives something in return, even if it's no more than returning that library book that's two years overdue.

And, so, it was in Bellaire the people who seemed to be most fulfilled by the events of the day were those giving their own blood.

"That's my way of helping out," said Betty Terry.

Betty Terry, Bertha Garza and Susan Abramowitz had all given blood before, but this was different. This time they were giving back to America at large.

"Today we have something to be very grateful for, which is our independence, our freedoms and our ability to give back," Abramowitz said.

Giving back to America.

Some even suggest a Fourth of July sale is giving back. Fifteen percent, to be precise. But it doesn't seem quite the same, does it?