Celebrating Our Nation’s Independence
Every year, we set aside the Fourth of July as a time to honor our nation’s independence by spending time with our families and other loved ones. On Independence Day, we celebrate our ability to live in a free country, a place where everyone has equal protection under the law and common access to the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Though we certainly face our fair share of difficulties, I believe we are all extraordinarily blessed to be able to live in such a great country. In many parts of the world, people still aren’t able to enjoy the same type of liberty and security that we as Americans have held for many generations. That’s something we should never take for granted.
Since the time of the Founding Fathers, our republic has stood strong, ensuring, as best as it can, a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The greatness of the United States is that, even in hard times, we’ve always managed to persevere and advance the dream set forth in our nation’s founding document: to form a “more perfect Union.” Every year we need to renew our commitment to this goal. It’s important we work to preserve the essential liberties enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, so that future generations can enjoy the same type of freedoms and opportunities from which we have benefited.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and barbeques, I hope we’re able to remember what this holiday is really about. In 1776, the Founding Fathers took fate into their own hands by declaring independence from the British Empire. They established a better government, founded on the basis of equal liberty. Today, we must uphold that vital aspiration.
As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.