July 4th is here, the anniversary of our country’s independence. What does it mean to you?
In today’s busy environment filled with distractions, it is easy to lose sight of just why we celebrate this day. While we revel in summer time bliss with barbeques, parades, and fireworks, the significance of the day and what sacrifices were made to get here seem so distant. It took a revolution to achieve our independence, liberty, and freedom.
Every school student probably spent part of their early educational experience learning about the significance of certain documents in our country’s history, like the Declaration of Independence. I recently took a little time to reread it, the document that was adopted by our forefathers to declare “our” independence and what we commemorate on July 4th. Those powerful words reminded me of the importance of this day. If you feel that you would like to reread it – don’t fret. It is available through many sources and even online (very convenient). It will certainly fill you with a renewed understanding of our Independence Day.
If we don’t bear in mind what our independence has cost and what it continues to demand, the reason we celebrate the 4th of July could be forgotten all together. Let’s remember why we celebrate July 4th
and how all of our lives have been influenced by that important document. With firecrackers, parades, and outdoor festivities included, enjoy those wonderful words that made this holiday essential to all of us.
Whatever Independence Day means to you, here are several memorable quotes from past Presidents to help you celebrate:
- “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Abraham Lincoln
- “This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women; and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” John F. Kennedy
- “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan