Monthly Archives: July 2025

Today is the day we celebrate the enduring spirit of independence and the bravery of those who secured it. From the red, white, and blue waving high to the fireworks lighting up the night sky, Americans will honor the past, cherish the present, and look to a future established in liberty and individual freedom.

Barack Obama once said, “People who love this country can change it. “He was wrong. America doesn’t need to be changed; her principles need to be strengthened. The fundamental transformation he spoke of signified a hatred for the core principles and his desire to change those. Today, the enemies of liberty and freedom still exist as forces of evil to do battle daily.

Often wrongly attributed to the author of the Declaration of Independence, we are reminded, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Ronald Reagan reminded us, “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.”

Reagan understood the fragility of liberty and how each generation must fight to preserve it. Some people, me included, believe last November was a watershed moment as we dodged the bullet of tyranny fired by Obama. But it is a battle that will have to be fought and won again. The enemies do not sleep; patriots cannot do so either.

As proud Americans, we must remember that patriotism is more than for today; it’s a lifelong commitment to the values that define us: freedom, unity, and courage. On this day, each year, I read the Declaration of Independence. Most people know the opening words, but tucked away and seldom taught in schools are these words, the heart and soul of the document, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

My wife and I hope your day is one of joy, pride, and reflection on what it truly means to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Remember, we are one nation under God, and if we are indivisible, there will be liberty and justice for all. It may sound corny, but it’s true.

Enjoy the BBQs, parades, and gatherings with friends and family, but remember what it took to get here and what we must do to maintain it.

The Declaration of Independence is a fascinating document and worth reading from time to time. I read it every July 4. Please do it now, especially toward the end. If not, read toward the bottom of this. Or get it off the meme I made in part. Still, though, the real question is raised at the end of what I’ve written here.

It speaks to our ideals and aspirations as a nation of united people. We’ve fallen short at times, but we always get back up. It’s an indictment against the British king, accompanied by an explanation of why we must be a free nation, and then further details why. And it acknowledges the shared sacrifice necessary to achieve independence.

The known sacrifice, a mutual pledge to be shared, is little known and buried toward the bottom, but so real, even today. See, most everyone is aware of specific phrases like, “When in the Course of human events…“ or “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

But tucked away and seldom taught in schools are found the heart in these words-“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The founders pledged their lives and property(fortunes) to the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence. We have a continuing duty to do the same.

However, I now have a question, and the answer will depend on your political perspective. If the founders had the foresight to know where we would be now as we begin our 250th year, would they have pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for it?