By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

July 3, 2009 – The first family will celebrate the Fourth of July on the South Lawn of the White House with a barbecue, fireworks and 1,200 military families.

The White House event will honor military heroes and their families and the invited guests will enjoy a barbecue on the South Lawn and an evening concluding with fireworks.

Entertainment will be provided by the Marine Band and the president will deliver brief remarks. 
 
This week the president delivered some tough talk to keep his agenda on track.   He kicked off the week pressing for health care reform with a town hall meeting, tried to ease fears over the 26-year high unemployment numbers, and wrapped up the week prepping for his trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana.

The president also made his first public statement regarding Michael Jackson to The Associated Press.  Obama said he has Jackson songs on his iPod and is glad to see that the entertainer is being remembered for “the great joy” that he brought to people with his extraordinary gifts. But he said that brilliance was paired with a tragic and sad personal life.