I just wanted to wish everyone a happy 4th of July weekend.  Take a moment to remember why we are celebrating this weekend.

Below is a list of local events. Make sure you come to the milwaukee zoo this sunday for operation freedom as well.

 Operation Freedom 2008 
The Military Order of the Purple Heart and Milwaukee County are co-hosting "Operation Freedom" to recognize our Armed Forces (active duty Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves and Veterans) and their families on Sunday, July 6, at the Milwaukee County Zoo.  Listeners are invited to join the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the County Executive, the County Board, Jeff Wagner at 1:30 pm for the formal program which this year will include the United States Army Drill Team. Admission for the public to the "Operation Freedom" program in the south end of the Zoo parking lot is included with normal zoo admission.  Call (414) 299-9052 for general information.  Come join our members of the Armed Forces to thank them for a job well done!

 Calling all Armed Forces!

 While our country continues to pursue the war against terror and military operations continue in Iraq and Afghanistan, many troops have made the successful journey home while other troops are still being deployed.  The Military Order of the Purple Heart and Milwaukee County would like to invite Wisconsin military personnel - active duty, reserves, guard, veterans, and the families to attend "Operation Freedom" at no cost.  Experience an exciting day at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Sunday, July 6, 2008 from 9 am - 6 pm and enjoy the following for free: admission, parking, rides, exhibits, as well as a free picnic lunch, recognition program and entertainment.  In addition to the zoo attractions, military equipment will be displayed in the zoo parking lot.  To obtain special wristbands, which will identify qualifying Zoo patrons, please contact your local veterans' organization, reserve or active units by June 27, 2008.  Wristbands will be available after June 27, 2008 - but will have to be picked up at Will Call at the Milwaukee County Fleet Management Offices located on Watertown Plank Road & Hwy. 45.  Shuttles will be available to take you to the Zoo.  For more information, call 414-299-9052.

Area Fourth of July-related activities

From the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 1, 2008

Here's a rundown of Fourth of July-related activities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties this week. All events are Friday, July 4, unless otherwise indicated.

For additional information on Fourth of July events, also see the MyCommunityNOW listings.

 Milwaukee County

• Alcott Park, 3751 S. 97th St.: parade, 9 a.m.; buggy/trike/coaster judging, 10:15 a.m. (awards presentation, 10:45 a.m.); kids' tattoos, games; talent contest, 6 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Enderis Playfield, 2978 N. 72nd St.: parade, 8:30 a.m. beginning at 81st Street School and MGC Church; concert, 9:45 a.m.; games, contests, prizes.

• Gordon Park, 1321 E. Locust St.: parade, 10:30 a.m.; children's activities; noon, Milwaukee Public Theater performance; 1:15 p.m., kids' talent contest; open mic (adults only), 4:30 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15

• Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave.: parade, 9 a.m. starting at Kinnickinnic and Lincoln avenues; children's entertainment; dance and talent contests; "All the King's Men," 7:15 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Jackson Park, 3500 W. Forest Home Ave.: parade, 8:30 a.m.; children's games, ice cream, doll buggy/tricycle/bicycle/coaster wagon contest; talent contest; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Dr. M L King Jr. Park, 1531 W. Vliet St.: face painting, games, prizes, food, 11:30 a.m.; talent contest, 1 p.m.; music and skating, 4 p.m.

• Lake Park, 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd.: parade, 9 a.m. starting at Maryland and Hartford avenues (Hartford School); children's games, sidewalk chalk drawing, buggy/coaster/trike and bike parades; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Lincoln Park, 1301 W. Hampton Ave.: fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51st Blvd.: family activities, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; talent contest and karaoke showcase, 2 p.m.

• Merrill Playfield, 461 N. 35th St.: parade, 10:15 a.m. from V.E. Carter (2801 W. Wisconsin Ave.) to park; parade awards, games, prizes, food

• Mitchell Park, 2600 W. Pierce St.: parade, 8:45 a.m.; contests, games; talent show, 3 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Noyes Park, 8235 W. Good Hope Road: parade, 8:45 a.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Sherman Park, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd.: parade, 9:30 a.m.; ice cream, games

• Washington Park, 1859 N. 40th St.: parade, 10 a.m.; games buggy/coaster/bikes/trikes contests; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

• Wilson Park, 1601 W. Howard Ave.: parade, 9 a.m. (north section, Lincoln State Bank parking lot, 3131 S. 13th St; south section, Wilson Park Recreation, 3900 S. 20th St.); music, contests, games; ice show, 3 p.m.; talent contest, 5L30 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

Shorewood: parade, 3:30 p.m. from Lake Bluff Blvd. and Oakland Ave., to River Park with ice cream and games in the park after the parade. Food and music in Atwater park, 6 p.m. Fireworks, 9:30 p.m. in Atwater Park. Call (414) 847-2700.

St. Francis: parade, 10 a.m. on Barland Ave., to Milt Vretenar Municipal Park. Activities, music and food to follow in the park. Fireworks, 9:15 p.m. Call (414) 481-2300.

South Milwaukee: children's parade, 10:10 a.m. followed by games, ice cream and penny scramble for kids in Brown Pavilion in Grant Park areas 5 and 6. Fireworks, 9:30 p.m. in the park. Call (414) 762-2222.

Wauwatosa: parade, 9 a.m. from 104th St. and North Ave., east to 80th St. Family games, judging of bikes, wagons and buggies, and free ice cream to parade participants from 12:30 to 4 p.m. in Hart Park. Fireworks, 9:30 p.m. in the park. Call (414) 479-8917.

West Allis: parade, 7 p.m. Wednesday from 77th St. and Greenfield Ave, ending at Veterans' Memorial Park, 70th & National Ave., followed by entertainment, music, and children's activities in the park. Talent show, 7 p.m. Friday with grandstand show at 8:30 p.m. followed by fireworks, all at State Fair Park. Call (414) 302-8300.

Whitefish Bay: parade, 11:30 a.m. on Silver Spring Drive to Lake Drive to Klode Park. Games, music and food in the park from 12:30 to 8 p.m. Fireworks, 9:15 p.m. in the park. Call (414) 962-6690.

 Ouzaukee County

Port Washington: parade, 11 a.m. starting from City Hall. Children may pick up supplies for decorating bikes before the parade at Port Washington State Bank. Bicycle judging, prizes, games and refreshments to follow parade in Veterans Park. Fireworks, dusk in Rotary Park. (262) Call 284-5585.

Saukville: parade, 1 p.m. Bicycle judging, games, music and food at Grady Park after parade. Festivities move to Peninsula Park at 6 p.m. concluding with fireworks at dusk. Call (262) 284-3372.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Germantown: parade, noon at corner of Pilgrim Road and Francese Drive; Germantown Youth Futures will be collecting non-perishable food items during the parade; activities follow all day at Firemen's Park; fireworks around 9:30 p.m. Call (262) 424-4457.

Kewaskum: food, beverages, music and fireworks at dusk Thursday in River Hill Park. Rain date, Friday. Call (262) 626-8484.

Hartford: parade, 2 p.m. Festivities at Veteran's Park after parade. Fireworks at Lincoln Athletic Park at dusk. Call (262) 673-8298.

West Bend: parade, 9:30 a.m. on Main St. in front of Badger Middle School; ends at Regner Park. Free root beer floats for children 13 and under, costume contests, music and food for purchase in Regner Park following parade. Activities at Riverside Park include performances by the West Bend Dance / Tumbling Troupe beginning at 7 p.m., and fireworks at 9:40 p.m.; best viewing is in Riverside Park. Call (262) 335-5080.

WAUKESHA COUNTY

Big Bend: A community concert featuring the 84th Division Army Band will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday on the grounds of Christ Lutheran Church, W89-W22970 Maple Ave. Date and time for fireworks have yet to be determined.

City of Brookfield: Parade at 10 a.m. Family Fest 6 to 9 p.m. with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. at Mitchell Park.

Town of Brookfield: Parade lineup at 8:45 a.m. in the Elmbrook Church north parking lot, with step-off at 9 a.m. Ice cream, games, square dancing, pie eating contest and food for purchase in Marx Park, 700 S. Barker Road until noon.

Butler: Parade at 2 p.m. Live music and food for purchase from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Frontier Park, 5251 N. 127th St. Fireworks at dusk.

Chenequa: Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. off the island on Pine Lake.

Delafield: Parade at 10 a.m. starting at Genesee St., continuing to Main St. and to Lapham Peak and ending at the American Legion Hall.

Elm Grove: Fun run/walk at 9 a.m. at the village grounds (registration required). Bike decorating contest at 11 a.m. Flag raising at the Village Hall, noon. Games, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Baking contest, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Music at the gazebo, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks at the village park, 9:40 p.m.

Lac La Belle: Parade at 10:15 a.m. Fireworks 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the west end of Lac La Belle.

Menomonee Falls: Parade at 7 p.m. Thursday. Drum and bugle corps performance following parade at 9 p.m. in the stadium on Woosencraft Drive. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Town of Merton: Parade lineup at 10 a.m. with step-off at 11 a.m. The Lions Club will host an evening festival Thursday and Friday in Stone Bank Park.

Muskego: Food, music, games and picnicking at Idle Isle Park starting about 3 p.m. Thursday. The Water Bugs ski show begins at 6:30 with fireworks at dusk.

New Berlin: Family Festival starts Wednesday at Malone Park, 16400 W. Al Stigler Parkway. The festival grounds will include a carnival and music, opening at 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Open noon to 11 p.m. Friday. The Wisconsin Singers perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Eisenhower High School Auditorium, 4333 S. Sunny Slope Road. On Friday, the parade begins at 1 p.m. on National Ave. at Coffee Road, proceeding to Malone Park, with fireworks at the park at 10 p.m.

Oconomowoc: Fireworks at dusk Thursday at Fowler Park. Rain date Sunday.

Oconomowoc Lake: Fireworks at dusk on Oconomowoc Lake. Rain date, Saturday.

Pewaukee: Bike, tricycle and wagon decorating contest in the morning in Pewaukee Village Park. Parade at 4 p.m. Ski show and live music downtown following parade. Fireworks at dusk.

Sussex: Parade lineup at 9:15 in the Village Hall parking lot for decorated bikes, wagons and strollers. Parade participants will receive ice cream following parade. Music at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:20 p.m. in the Sussex Village Park, W224-N6196 Weaver Drive.

Waukesha: Parade lineup 10:15 a.m. at Cutler Park, 321 Wisconsin Ave. Children's marching and float judging, 10:15 a.m. Bikes, tricycles, wagons and costume judging, 10:30 a.m. Parade begins at 11 a.m. Free ice cream for children who participate in the parade. Fireworks, 9:15 p.m. at the Waukesha Exposition Center, 1000 Northview Road.