What does Independence Day mean to us?
Independence Day represents freedom. It represents our country’s liberations from Britain, providing Americans with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In celebration of the Fourth of July, local leaders shared their thoughts on what the holiday means to them.
Raymond Gonzales, Former Scottsbluff, Nebraska mayor
“What independence means to me (is) the ability to live in peace and harmony and to live without government interference. The Fourth of July is a celebration of our freedom … our way of life in the United States of America.”
Travis Miller, Bayard Public Schools in Bayard, Nebraska superintendent
“To me, Independence Day is an opportunity to honor the commitment and sacrifices of those who served in our Armed Forces. Their defense of our liberty is honorable. Independence Day is a chance to reflect on our shared values and to appreciate the blessings of the liberty we enjoy so dearly in this country.”
Tony Kaufman, Gering, Nebraska mayor
“It’s really symbolic for democracy in our country and is really a day that we can all set aside and reflect and appreciate all the sacrifices of all our first responders, and all our men and women, home and abroad, that fight for our freedoms every single day.”
Alisha Youch, 2013 Navy Spouse of the Year
“For me, Independence Day is a reminder of the value of our freedom. A little over two centuries ago, colonists in this land felt strongly enough about their desire for freedom from tyranny that they were willing to die for it. Independence Day is a reminder of the tremendous gift of freedom we have been given and of our responsibility to handle it with care and maintain it, unbroken, to pass on to our children and our children’s children. Freedom may be most often won by blood on the battlefield, but it is maintained by each and every one of us through our daily actions, our understanding of our rights, and our insistence that those freedoms persist.”
Jen Chaloux, Army Spouse
“The 4th of July, the American flag, and the “rockets red glare” are a reminder of what people/families in the past, present, and future have sacrificed to allow our great nation to be free. Despite the political differences, I believe we still live in the greatest nation in the world. We are a melting pot of great people who sacrifice for the future of others. We are a nation of truly brave individuals I proudly call heroes. And it’s a day to also remember those who are no longer with us…always moving forward, never retreat…we are Americans!”
Stacy Huisman, Air Force Spouse
“Being from Las Vegas, the Fourth of July was just another reason for the city to celebrate. Fireworks would go off from every hotel top, every outdoor venue booked with fabulous bands and pyrotechnics. We couldn’t wait for the sun to finally set – which felt like an eternity. Once our personal fireworks were finished, we’d climb on our roofs to watch the tops of the hotels and outdoor arenas ignite in the most magnificent display of patriotism. We were lucky to be Vegas kids because we felt like the entire city gave us our own personal fireworks show from the comforts of our rooftops. Like everything else in Las Vegas, the fireworks were always showstoppers! It’s hard not to watch fireworks today without wondering what my hometown skyline might look like. Missing home.”
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/I8cterh_eIU
- https://starherald.com/news/local/what-does-independence-day-mean-to-me/article_215f5d28-10e4-501c-ab80-36918a29b939.html
- https://www.militaryspouse.com/spouse-101/what-independence-days-means-to-us-1/
- https://us-east-2.console.aws.amazon.com/polly/home/SynthesizeSpeech
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