This weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, we will be surrounded by the sounds of this great holiday. Fireworks, children laughing at the beach, the Star-Spangled Banner playing in local parades — these are sounds of a free and better life, thanks to our founding fathers and the troops who protect us around the world.

The sounds of freedom can also be heard this week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thanks to a new Spirit of America project.

To bring together children and communities divided by ethnic lines, Spirit of America has partnered with NATO Headquarters Sarajevo and the Armed Forces Band of Bosnia and Herzegovina to launch #Bandtogether. Spirit of America will provide musical instruments to students at eight schools around Bosnia, and members of the Armed Forces Band of Bosnia and Herzegovina will mentor the students through workshops and classes. The project will culminate in a joint “unity concert” with the students and their families.

The US Army Europe and Africa Band is there right now to help kick things off, playing music for the students alongside the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina band – a beautiful show of American friendship to our partners in this Balkan country.

Just as music is a universal language, so is freedom.