a Tribute to America...

Today is Independence Day. The day we observe the founding of the great country we get to, so freely, live in. I take on a more sentimental tone when talking about this country because of how much I love her and how much I love being an American. This nation is the greatest in the world, and was meant to be that. Our Founding Fathers didn't come here to create a nation that would just exist. They came here and created this nation as a beacon of hope and freedom that would shine out over the world and preserve a wonderful future for their children and their children's children. It's weathered time and wars (Both within and outside her borders), depressions and disasters, coming through strong in her resolve to remain the leader of the free world. We've come a long way, this "one nation under God...". It is not always easy, and many times it is a great struggle, but through that struggle we grow; we push forward in the hard times and when we're knocked down we pick ourselves back up.

When new citizens enter our country they pass by one of the greatest monuments to freedom, the Statue of Liberty. Inside is a plaque with a beautiful poem inscribed on it. The last part of that plaque has become the motto of Lady Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Beautiful words, and a wonderful reminder that this nation, founded on the principles of a Creator, God, who has blessed all men and women with the right to be free, is open to all people who "yearn" for just that, freedom. So then, here I end and, with the words of Abraham Lincoln, I pray that this great nation "of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Russ VanAllen
Have a happy Independence Day