Celebrate your freedom

July 4 is here, a day filled with barbecues, heading to the lake and of course, fireworks. And while there is plenty of fun to be had, it’s also a time for reflection.

Independence Day commemorates the Declaration of Independence, a day when the original 13 colonies stated that they were no longer subject to the rule of Britain. Though not the first step toward becoming our own country, it certainly was the most significant.

In today’s world, 243 years following the signing of that document granting our freedoms, it’s not hard to imagine the fight our military endured to ensure those same rights and freedoms would be upheld. Our soldiers have never wavered from continuing the fight against tyranny, whether it be on domestic soil or foreign.

Unfortunately, in modern society we often think too much within those lines drawn by a particular political party or the practices of organizations we might belong to, rather than stopping to consider that, though our beliefs often conflict, we are all Americans and, at the most basic levels, we are all the same.

When you’re out enjoying some freshly grilled brats and burgers, and watching as the sky lights up this holiday, remember what we’re celebrating. Those explosions of bright color call to mind the 13-gun salutes used to celebrate Independence Day in its early years, and the booming artillery of our military helping to birth our nation and keep it secure to this day.

If only for a moment, send up a thought or prayer with the pyrotechnics, for those who fought and continue the fight for our freedoms.