This year, Morgan Fullmer’s glad to be celebrating in the United States.
“He has returned safely, has developed the heart of a patriot and is thankful to be celebrating July Fourth back in Texas,” his mom, Mona Fullmer, said.
Morgan grew up thinking the Fourth of July was a worldwide celebration of his birthday.
“My mom used to always tell me, ‘Look, they’re celebrating for your birthday,’” said Morgan, a graduate of Temple High School. “I wasn’t old enough to know what Independence Day was. Once I figured it out I was a little upset but I decided to just pretend it was all for me anyway.”
Mona said her favorite memories of his birthday are going to the Belton Fourth of July Parade and swimming in Salado Creek.
“He was always thrilled that people had a holiday from work and went to a historic parade and rodeo all for his birthday,” she said.
She said giving birth to a child on the Fourth of July colors the day like nothing else.
Her doctor arrived at the Temple hospital still dressed in shorts from a tennis game. “We laughed about his missing hot dogs … a feeble attempt at best to distract from the pain,” she wrote in an e-mail expressing fond July Fourth memories.
Last year, Morgan spent his birthday in Iraq as a Marine reservist called into active duty. Mona said Morgan will be in the reserves for three more years, but is also attending school and working.
As for last year’s celebration, it wasn’t quite like the ones from his childhood.
“I got a leftover cake that someone else was sent on their birthday,” he said. “It was a ridiculously melted and crumbled cake, but it was delicious.”
Now, when the country is celebrating the Fourth of July, the parades, cookouts and rodeos really are celebrating Morgan and his fellow soldiers.
“It’s kind of weird,” Morgan said. “I feel a little more patriotic because now I’m fighting for the country I live in and I was born on that day.”
