WASHINGTON — As Americans across the country prepare to celebrate Independence Day, another beloved annual tradition is in full swing: asking military veterans whether or not the impending barrage of fireworks will send them spiraling into a nightmarish flashback.

This cherished custom, which dates back to the post-Vietnam era, has become as synonymous with the Fourth of July as apple pie, backyard barbecues, and the uncle who always stands a little too close to the fireworks. 

Neighborhoods and families nationwide have reportedly already begun the time-honored practice of awkwardly approaching veterans to ask if the explosive festivities will rekindle memories of war-torn landscapes and mortal peril.