It involves commitment and understanding that one is part of something greater than oneself and recognition that when the uniform went on it was not just for show but also for defending a way of life.
The actions set in motion on Independence Day made us the country we are today and me the person I am today.
I gained as a result of the courage of our founding fathers the privilege to live in a country where class is not a barrier to success; education is supported as a roadmap to a stronger populace and where we as a nation have had the courage to make the right decisions at the right time in history. Most critical to me personally are the Thirteenth Amendment making slavery unconstitutional; the nineteenth amendment giving women the right to vote and Supreme Court decisions on Brown v Board of Education, Roe v Wade, Same Sex Marriage and the Affordable Health Care Act. Last week was a week where history almost went on fast forward with the latter two issues on this list.
At the heart of these laws and programs is the enlightened supposition that “…All people are created equal.” As much as we disagree as a populace, equality holds true as a principle.
I am fortunate to live in a country rooted in the past but honest enough to adapt to what is right for society and for its people. And while we are not perfect as a nation or as a culture, on this day I give pause and thanks to the founding fathers and to those brave souls along the way who stood up for what was right and made change happen; to those in uniform and to those who had the call to serve this country; and to each person waving the flag, saying the pledge of allegiance and taking a moment in time to reflect on the grandeur that is America.
Happy Fourth!
