How Did You Spend Independence Day?

U.S. soldiers stand at attention during a mass reenlistment ceremony in Baghdad July 4, 2008. More than 1200 soldiers were reenlisted in the U.S. military on Friday as part of a U.S. Independence Day celebration at al-Faw palace in Camp Victory. (REUTERS/Erik de Castro)

How are you spending your 4th of July holiday? While most Americans probably slept, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines raised their right hands and committed to a combined 5,500 years of additional service during the largest reenlistment ceremony in the history of the American military. Beneath a large American flag which dwarfed even the enormous chandelier that Saddam Hussein had built for the Al Faw Palace, members of all services, representing all 50 states took the oath administered by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq.

Patriotism, you know it when you see it, seldom do Americans have to give speeches about what it means to them.

UPDATE: Video added of Gen Petreaus conducting the swearing in of the re-up ceremony in the Al Faw Palace rotunda at Camp Victory, Baghdad.