On this 4th of July, I pray that the true spirit of American independence will beam proudly from deep with-in us. The sacred joys that freedom brings should fill our thoughts as we ponder the liberties endowed to us through great risk and personal sacrifice by courageous men like General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and many others.
General Washington holds a special place in history as the Father of our country and the primary figure in securing our independence. On this 4th of July, let us feel a renewed sense of the true meaning of American independence.
Several years ago I walked the grounds of General Washington’s Mount Vernon where our first president worked and lived. I could feel the spirit of independence, the rugged individualism, the spark of hope and optimism that Washington portrayed. At every turn I saw evidence of his hard work and innovation. I beheld the rewards of personal investment and achievement. Here was a man who made his own way and succeeded in the face of all obstacles. Here was a man of independence.
He set a tone that is the spirit of America. That tone is the unfailing spirit of independence that for over 200 years has made America great. There was no cry from our founding fathers for England to dole out subsistence to fledgling colonies. In fact – just the opposite was true as Americans cried out for independence. We cut the strings of dominating oppression so smothering to the entrepreneurial spirit. We went to war for the right of self-determination. We fought for the freedom to succeed and learn from our failures, knowing that it is through our failures that we become wiser and stronger.
This is our sacred legacy, left to us by courageous men of integrity whose passion and dedication to action led a rabble of British subjects to become a nation of freemen-masters of their own destiny. Where is that American spirit today? Where can we find that same spirit of independence? Where are those persons of integrity who fight for our freedoms and can lead this nation, as did our founding fathers? They are all around us. They are our police officers, fire fighters, engineers and bricklayers. They are our mothers and fathers, teachers and doctors. We are Americans building a nation of hope, independence and love for freedom.
Washington reminded us, “The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are … entrusted to the hands of the American people.“
I think that trust is well founded. We are the future of this nation. Our dedication to the cause of freedom can only be passed on to our children through example. Independence is not “cradle to grave” security. Independence is the exhilaration that comes from making your own way, like General Washington. By succeeding in the face of trials, we become a better people – a better nation, a better America. Happy Independence Day America!
Senator Chuck Gray (R) – Mesa, Arizona
