But for some reason, that didn't happen when the town turned out on the Fourth for a celebration on the front lawn at Los Gatos High School.

Oh, there were patriotic songs, and the band played the battle hymns for each of our nation's service corps. But when asked by a group of veterans and some parents of Los Gatos men and women serving overseas to read the names of those soldiers during the day's ceremonies, Los Gatos Mayor Steve Glickman declined.

The request came from the representatives of Operation Yellow Ribbon, a group made up largely of Los Gatos Rotary Club members and spearheaded by Vietnam veteran Michael Frangadakis. The group's main purpose is to support the troops in foreign lands with a special emphasis on soldiers from the Los Gatos area.

The original request for Independence Day recognition of the troops came during the planning stages for the July 4th event, but that request was denied. Then the request was made again during the Fourth of July event.

Glickman told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times that Operation Yellow Ribbon approached him and the Fourth of July committee late in the planning stages, and that he and the committee members denied the request to avoid making a political statement and because of a concern that the list of soldiers might be incomplete.

When the group made yet another attempt to get the mayor to read the names on the Fourth of July, he refused to alter the program, saying "these things are carefully organized" and "we are not going to make sudden changes."

It's our opinion that such rigidity at an event of this nature is unnecessary. We're pretty sure that no one attending the event to honor America would have had a problem waiting another 10 minutes to get a bowl of ice cream if it meant that soldiers and their families from Los Gatos were going to get some recognition.

Further, we don't believe that there is anything political about reading the names of service men and women—sons and daughters of Glickman's constituency—serving our nation abroad, especially on Independence Day. In fact, quite the contrary—it seems like the natural thing to do. What's more, it would have been the right thing to do.

The mayor did meet the parents of local service personnel following his address in front of the Los Gatos Rotary Club booth to read the names and pass out medals. But most of the large crowd was unaware it was taking place.

The waving of American flags and the playing of patriotic songs is a nice way to honor our country and our freedom, but it's important to recognize who it is protecting our country and freedom. Mayor Glickman had that opportunity on the Fourth of July. For some reason, he chose not to.