Each day I walk the halls of the Capitol Building, I am in awe of the debates, votes, and victories that have taken place over 243+ years to preserve the liberties and freedoms we enjoy today. The building is filled with history, not only history of the events that have taken place there, but the artifacts of that history placed all around the building. The most grand of the rooms is the Rotunda, in the heart of the Capitol. In the Rotunda hang eight large paintings, four of which represent scenes from the early exploration of our nation, and the other four are scenes from our first years as a nation.
The first is the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Whenever I see this painting, I am reminded of the courage of our founding fathers who put their lives on the line for our freedom. Dozens of men whose names are well known to history, who risked their lives for a cause they believed in, stood gathered in a crowded room, and signed a document that declared our nation free from tyranny.
That is what we celebrate today. The brave decision of our founding fathers to step into the unknown and fight for the truths they held self-evident – that all are endowed by God with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that we should institute a government deriving their power from the governed - a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. This was the unseen vision those writing the Declaration had in mind, that a nation of farmers and merchants and landowners could succeed in this experiment of democracy. The same vision holds true today. I strive every day to ensure that my constituents’ voices are heard and that their government works for them.
William Faulkner once said, “We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” Today, reflect on what it means to be an American, what it means to be free. To have the freedom to assemble, practice your religion, speak without fear of persecution, access reliable news, and petition your government.
But, we must also remember that our freedom is not really free. We must honor our service members who never left the battlefield—those who gave their all, whether on the beaches of Normandy or the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan—and those who continue to fight for our freedoms every day. To those servicemen and women currently down range, and to their families, we thank each of you for your devotion to this nation and to the cause of liberty. Your bravery, determination, and loyalty will never cease to be a guiding light for this country.
We are so blessed to be Americans in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Happy Independence Day!
