Happily enjoyed a sunny 4th of July. Hope yours was the same.

Although we enjoy this day with good friends and family, let us not forget that a lot of good men, real good men and their family lost everything they had for signing our Declaration of Independence from subsequent pursuit by the British. Many not only lost their lands, their farms, their businesses and homes but lost their families and their lives.

Freedom is not free. It comes at a great cost. Defending it is not cheap and I don’t just mean in dollars. I’m talkin’ about heart and soul. A willingness to cherish that freedom at all costs and defend that freedom still today against all enemies foreign and domestic.

America is not about our government. It is about our people. They are a great people. A little stupid from time to time perhaps but we are a caring and loving people for the most part.  Many have lost their way, unfortunately.  Many have, to a degree, lost their sense of neighbor and community but many too are re-finding that sense of community and neighbor helping neighbor. In some cases, it has taken a national economic crisis, in others, a natural disaster.

Governments do not make nations great. It is a nation’s people which make a nation great. America is a great nation because it is a nation of great people and it began with those who gave everything and sacrificed in the face of tyranny.

So on this 4th of July yes we did party and yes we did cheer at the fireworks and play celebratory songs of our nations Independence. But I also would like to believe that many also found new friends, new neighbors and a new sense of community and just what makes freedom and a nation great.

I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July, no matter what country you are reading this in because if you believe in the values of freedom you are a part of this great nation. This is why we say, no matter what you believe God to be, God bless the USA…

Photo Credit: © 2011 Jim Mau

Copyright: Trooper V6 © 2011