The land of the free.....

“We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” Robert J. McCracken

We are blessed to live in this country. It may not be perfect, it may need to see some changes but it is a the greatest place on earth to live. We enjoy freedoms other countries only dream about. We have so many opportunities here and even when we are not at our best, our worst is so much more than many people in the world ever will attain. Be proud to have been blessed to be an American.

I have been blessed to live in many places in this country.I have seen fireworks in small hamlets, in country towns, cities, even the nation's capital. By far the best fireworks are the ones that happen right here among 100,000 people lying on old blankets, tablecloths, their shirts ,the baby's blanket but all together under the Gateway Arch watching the fireworks being framed by the awesome steely structure. I hope you have a chance to wave a sparkler, eat a hot dog and watch awesome fireworks as you reflect on the privilege of being a citizen of this great country.

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. -Erma Bombeck