LeBron James and Sports Aside, We Salute Our Men and Women in Uniform

July 1 was a day where sports writers from the west coast to the east coast stayed by their computers and didn't budge an inch, fearing they'd miss the next big NBA free agent signing.

Those of us here at Bleacher Report did the exact same thing, though I'm sure some of us moved a little more than others.

We wanted to see what LeBron James was going to do next, where Dwayne Wade was going, and if Chris Bosh would join either of them. We didn't want to miss whatever breaking news was coming next.

But, on the eve of the day where we celebrate our country's independence, it's time to put sports aside and remember those who have died, who have fought, and who are still fighting for us to have the freedoms we enjoy.

We spend so much time looking at the next big thing in sports or the next big story, but there are times that we need to remember those that don't get a chance to just sit and relax or have that moment where they're not on edge every second.

For those of us that write for Bleacher Report that have served in the military, you know what I'm talking about, and only those select few know what it's really like.

What sticks out in my mind is, during every big sporting event, the television stations cut away if only for a few minutes to show the soldiers overseas watching that same event on the Armed Forces Network.

You see the men and women in uniform that don't get to be with their friends or families on any given holiday and don't know when or if they'll be coming home.

So, on this day, I thought it would be appropriate to put sports aside and salute those men and women who continue to fight overseas for our freedom.

To the Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force, to those that not only serve today, but to those that have gone before us from World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, and Desert Storm. We say a personal "Thank You" from all of us that would never have the courage to do what you do or make the sacrifices you have made.

Though there will always be those who don't respect what you do or why, there are so many more that know exactly what you've given up to go half way around the world, fighting an enemy you hardly know anything about.

So, as the fireworks pop in the sky this weekend and the patriotic songs blare from stereos and sound systems, remember to thank those that don't get a chance to celebrate with us.

To all of you who serve or have served, thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for the opportunities you've given us.

God speed, and we pray you return home to those friends and family that anxiously await you.

You can follow Todd Kaufmann on Twitter (twitter.com/toddkaufmannbr) or find him on Facebook