Austin Orthodontics asks: How are you spending Independence Day?

This coming Monday, July 4th, is Independence Day and the United States of America will be turning 235 years old! It’s a day to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and also a time for every American to pay homage to our soldiers, past and present, who have placed themselves in harm’s way so that we may continue to enjoy our freedom.

Dr. Nelson served four years in the U.S. Army and a tour in Vietnam. He and our team will be celebrating this Monday and we would like to know, what are your plans for the 4th of July? Will you be out in the sun? Are you staying in town or heading somewhere else? If you have a 4th of July tradition, we would love to hear about it.

Whatever you plan to do, Austin Orthodontics hopes you have a fun and safe holiday! Feel free to upload your 4th of July photos to our Facebook page and let us know how your Independence Day turned out this year.

VAC Pilot, Army Veteran and Austin Orthodontist

As a Vietnam army veteran, Dr. David Nelson volunteers his time and his Cessna 425 to Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) to help wounded soldiers reunite with family or attend special events at no extra cost. Be sure to check out this ABC Network video to learn more about how Dr. Nelson gives back to our soldiers and community.

Dr. David Nelson, helping America's wounded soldiers

Dr. David Nelson enjoys flying, but not for the reason one might think. He is part of a group that has helped more than 1,700 wounded soldiers with their recovery.

The Center For The Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio is where some of the most seriously injured U.S. soldiers go to heal. For some of them, flying with Dr. Nelson is their best way of reconnecting with the outside world.

Dr. Nelson is an Army veteran himself, having flown AH-1G or "Cobra" attack helicopters during the war in Vietnam. As a private pilot, Dr. Nelson volunteers his time and his twin engine cessna 425 with Veterans Airlift Command. VAC, as it's called, is a completely civilian organization of pilots helping wounded soldiers reunite with family or attended special events ... at no cost.

Dr. Nelson recently headed to New Mexico -- just south of Albuquerque -- to meet another VAC pilot and meet two soldiers returning to rehab at Intrepid.

"My friends who were hurt and killed in Vietnam with me... what are we 38 years later and I still get emotional about it. I really do," Dr. Nelson said. "I still remember their names and their faces and stuff like that."

According the the Department of Defense 35,944 U.S. service members have been wounded in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom since 2003.

"America has matured to the point of understanding that you can disagree with an action of the government but the people who carry it out still deserve your support," Dr. Nelson says in the video. "And I just think that's incredible. I think these guys deserve everything we can give them."

If you have any comments you'd like to add, or have questions for Dr. Nelson, please post them here or give us a call at Austin Orthodontics!