Military Family Free Dayz at the Columbus Zoo

The Columbus Zoo is incredible and this week they're having a Military Family Free Dayz for Veterans. We thought this was a great opportunity to have a family adventure day at the zoo, discuss with the kids the true meaning of the 4th of July and spend it with our veterans, who we are eternally grateful, for sacrificing so much that we may enjoy all of our freedoms.

Where to first? I was hoping to the Congo, as I love the gorillas, but I was outvoted. (and by a wide margin) It's off to Africa to see the lions and feed the giraffes.

I can sit and watch the lions all day. They move with such grace and power, but on a hot day like today, just lying in the sun is never a bad idea.

The prairie they have at the Africa exhibit is breathtaking. Giraffes, zebra and ostrich all have plenty of room to move around. It gives you a small glimpse of what they might look like in their natural habitat.

Here is Shaggy. He's almost part of the family. The kids all love him and their favorite thing to do is feed him lettuce. You can pay $3 for 3 pieces of lettuce to feed him and the other giraffes. I think the giraffes are one of the most majestic and regal animals in the world. Beautiful animals!

Life is about experiences and there's not too many people who can say they've ridden a camel. Well the girls can cross this off their list. The interaction the zoo allows with the animals has helped instill a real love and respect for the animals with the kids. Which makes this dad very happy and proud.

It's off to the Congo and to see the gorillas!

But first a quick stop at the aquarium to see the manatees.

The gorillas were out and very active. I could literally watch them all day.

When you look into their eyes, they are looking right back. You see their extreme intelligence. I can only imagine what it would be like to watch them in their natural habitat. Things seem so much simpler in nature.

Here's the new born with his mother. Even so young, they move with such purpose and grace.

It was a really hot day so we took the kids over to cool off on the log ride. Inside that waterfall they are, smiling ear to ear.

It was a great day all around. We got to meet some incredible veterans and thank them for their service. We had an ongoing discussion all day about what the 4th of July truly signifies, and our 2 oldest are old enough now to start to understand what freedom and liberty truly mean. I believe Steemit belongs in this dialogue. Giving people a decentralized platform free from corruption and bias to speak their minds. A decentralized currency where the free market still determines it's value. Freedoms are taken for granted every day, and they always will be, but the more education we can put out there, the more people we can introduce to Steemit and crypto currency, the stronger we'll become as a community, and these freedoms we enjoy today, we can ensure another generation has these same opportunities that freedom presents for tomorrow.