Seeing today how our representatives in the federal government - from the President, to both houses of Congress, and the justices of the Supreme Court - I believe we would do well to remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote, “In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” I also like to remember the words of Ronald Reagan, who said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
As a ninth generation American, I try to imagine my first ancestor who came to the colonies from Germany in 1747 with his wife and young son. Researching my family history, I discovered that this son became a sergeant and fought in the militia in the Revolutionary War taking his oath of allegiance in 1777. His father received two hundred acres from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for his patriotic service in the cause of freedom.
I like to believe this fierce commitment I feel to preserve our freedom was somehow passed on to me in the bloodstream from my ancestors and compels me to be involved in whatever way I can to restore our republic.
Happy 4th of July!
