Our nation will celebrate its 233^rd birthday on Saturday. In earlier days the Fourth of July was both a joyous and solemn occasion - joyous for the liberty we possess and solemn because of the price many paid for it.

In recent times this holiday has become a raucous time of celebration, often with no idea of what is being celebrated. We must remember and teach our children that no other nation has ever had what we possess - a government that is truly answerable to its constituents. We are allowed to complain against our elected officials without penalty. We may vote without fear of reprisal. We have rights that perplex other nations. No one gave us these rights - our ancestors fought for and won them. We have a responsibility to keep them. Celebrate these things on this Independence Day.

There is the National Flag. He must be cold, indeed, who can look upon its folds rippling in the breeze without pride of country. If he be in a foreign land, the flag is companionship and country itself, with all its endearment...The very colors have a language which was recognized by our fathers; white is for purity; red, for valor; blue, for justice. And altogether, bunting, stripes, stars, and colors, blazing in the sky, make the flag of our country, to be cherished by all our hearts, to be upheld by all our hands. ~ Charles Sumner

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.        ~ Unknown