The celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday is a powerful lesson of focus, shared values, and emotional connection.

Over the last three plus decades, I’ve served as a semi-professional public address announcer for major league spring training and minor league baseball. That’s lots and lots and lots of dizzy bat races, dirtiest cars in the parking lot, and “Take Me out to the Ballgames”!

Do you know what I enjoy most?

It’s when I get to invite veterans and active service members to rise and be acknowledged for their service to our country. It’s the loudest ovation of the evening.

What does that mean for your radio station?

A few years ago my friend Bryan O’Neal discovered that anyone celebrating a birthday can take the 26-mile ferry ride for free from Long Beach to Catalina Island. Guests are given special birthday ribbons to wear transforming total strangers into friends with birthdays in common.

Of course the birthday boys and girls don’t come alone. Each has brought along family and friends to celebrate their big day. So, not only did Bryan become special, his family and friends became special, and the other people with the same birthday became special.

Instant community! … formed out of what would otherwise have been simply a bunch of strangers walking around an island.

“If you help your customers feel special, they won’t be able to resist telling their friends.”

Greg Stielstra

Thousands and thousands of our listeners also have important things in common. Successful stations focus on those things. Celebrate those things. Invite them to stand and be applauded for those things.

We’re all Americans! That’s why the loudest cheer is for the veterans!

Happy birthday, USA!