Living (and loving) Life
Today is a very special day here in the United States of America.
Yes, it’s the 4th of July. But it’s so much more than that.
July 4th by itself would be just another date on the calendar.
Just another hot, sticky summer day with folks doing whatever they do on any other hot, sticky summer day.
But July 4 is special because it’s the day we Americans celebrate our nation’s independence and the freedoms we all enjoy because of it.
On Veterans Day we honor all the wonderful vets who served our nation in uniform, risking everything they had (including their lives) to protect our nation and our freedoms from anyone and everyone who desire to take them away from us.
On Memorial Day we honor the countless men and women in uniform who died in the service of our country and returned home draped with our beautiful flag.
For those reasons, Veterans Day and Memorial Day are somber holidays, more intended for reflection than celebration.
Independence Day is different…
This is a day of true celebration. No tears need to be shed over what it represents.
On July 4, 1776 the British colonies of North America officially declared themselves to be free from the chains of oppression that had bound them for many, many years.
On that day the British colonies of North America became the United States of America, a free and sovereign nation that would forevermore control her own destiny and the lives of her citizens.
Of course the totality of that transition didn’t happen overnight. It took several years of war and the lives of many patriots to finally secure that end, but secure it they did.
Today, on July 4, 2024 we celebrate the fruits of that difficult and costly, but very worthy endeavor.
We Americans are free. And we shall remain free.
I hope you’ll go out and celebrate our precious independence and the freedoms we all enjoy, in whatever way you see fit.
Have a cookout.
Watch a ballgame.
Set off fireworks if that’s allowed where you live.
Just have a great time. No tears need be shed on this happy day, unless they are tears of joy.
To finish up, check out this short video in which president Ronald Reagan’s eloquently explains why Independence Day is so special in the hearts and minds of us Americans…