When Columbus Crew forward Jason Garey stands at attention for the Star-Spangled Banner prior to Saturday's match against D.C. United in Crew Stadium, it will be a reflective moment not just because it is Independence Day.
His parents will be in attendance from Louisiana for the holiday match but one absent family member will be even more prominent in his thoughts. Garey's younger brother by two years, Ricardo, is stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Southern California.
"His first deployment is in September. He's probably going to Afghanistan," Garey said of his 22-year-old sibling. "Hopefully, he'll get a little leave time before he goes and try to come up to a game.
"Yeah, I'm worried. We'll pray for the best for him. I couldn't be any prouder. He protects all of us. That's the sacrifice he made."
Seeing the color guard prior to matches and then hearing, "Oh, say can you see" always moves Garey.
"The National Anthem always means a little bit more because I always think about Ricardo," he said. "It's the first thing I think about."
The Fourth of July has special meaning, albeit for totally different grounds, for Crew assistant coach Mike Lapper.
He was on the U.S. bench that day during its 1-0 loss to Brazil in the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Palo Alto, Calif.
"Whenever you get chance to play for the national team and represent your country it's a very proud moment," he said.
He likes the day for another reason. His stunning 40-yard strike at Colorado in 1999 was a career highlight among the five goals he scored in 110 matches and helped the team to a 3-0 victory before more than 50,000 disappointed Rapids fans.
For an international player such as Argentinean forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the day doesn't have the same meaning but he appreciates its significance since coming to the USA in May 2007.
"It's a great day for the American people," he said "I understand what it is. I know the day is very important for their independence. It's a good moment to celebrate."
Countryman Gino Padula joked there is nothing like Independence Day in Argentina because, "We have too many ... July 9th, June 20th ..."
Saturday will be special for the Crew because it marks only the second Fourth of July home game in history. They lost 2-1 to Kansas City in 1997 in a match remembered for a sideline scuffle between K.C. coach Ron Newman and Crew player Marcelo Carrera. After Newman was ejected, he made sure to straighten his tie and fix his hair in front of a national TV camera before exiting Ohio Stadium.
The Crew are 2-4-2 on July 4 but a win would vault the Crew ahead of Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United, who they trail by a point.
"We have to be focused on the game. If we win then we can celebrate the day," Padula said.
The Crew will be without defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers because of the U.S. participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Warzycha has decided sophomore Andy Iro will replace Marshall and team with first-year center back Eric Brunner. Veterans Frankie Hejduk and Padula will provide support on the backline.
Iro has not played a league match since scoring and being red-carded at Chivas USA on April 5. He served a suspension then suffered a strained left quadriceps. However, he went 90 minutes plus a 30-minute overtime Tuesday in the Crew's U.S. Open Cup loss at Rochester.
"It prepares me well for this weekend," he said. "The injury kept me out longer than expected. I'm just glad one of the first times I'm available I'm starting."
The game convinced Warzycha that the pair of young defenders could work together.
"We did well," Iro said. "In fact, I think it was one of our better defensive efforts on Tuesday, especially being a man down. Brunner's a smart player. We're both young and willing to learn and listen. Being in between Frankie and Gino we'll be fine."
Iro will have a chance to continue the defenders' scoring streak. Brunner scored the lone goal in a 2-1 defeat at FC Dallas on June 20 and Marshall had the decider in a 1-0 victory against New York a week later.
Warzycha is bemused.
"I heard the question two weeks ago why is Guillermo scoring but no one else?" he said. "Now I hear why they (defenders) are scoring and not the forwards? As long as we're winning the game it doesn't matter who's scoring."
He was still contemplating Friday afternoon who would start up with Schelotto, the MLS player of the Month for June. Alejandro Moreno, Steven Lenhart and Garey are in the mix although Garey is still recovery from a hard 120 minutes on Tuesday.
Danny O'Rourke will move from defender to central midfield to pair with Brian Carroll. Eddie Gaven was in the middle but he is expected to return to the right flank while Emmanuel Ekpo goes from right to left in place of Rogers. William Hesmer will be in goal.
If Moreno (Venezuela) starts, the Crew could have five foreign players on the field. Adding a Pole, Argentine and Russian on the coaching staff makes the kind of melting pot the country exemplifies.
Iro, from Liverpool, England, doesn't resent the U.S. celebrating again the break from his country.
"They're paying me wages so, no, I don't mind," he said.
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com
