July 5, 2026

Happy 250th anniversary to our great nation! This experiment in democracy is a blessing of God and a testament to our American spirit. The great ideals laid out by our Founding Fathers and Mothers have not all come to fruition completely. We still have work to do. We are the richest country in the world but we still have people living in poverty. We are the smartest country in the world but we let the allure of profits slow advances. We honor our veterans, yet some live on the streets. We have great medical knowledge but too few can afford it. Yes, we have things to work on but we also have much to offer. That’s why so many people want to come here.

Sometimes the best way to achieve a great future is to recall our foundational principles. Here are a few of the words that have made this country who we are and who we aspire to yet be:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  — Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson

When asked what kind of government has been created, Benjamin Franklin said, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent, we may be led like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington

 “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”  —Poem at the Statue of Liberty by Emma Lazarus

“There’s not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.” — Jackie Robinson

“The essence of America—that which really unites us—is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion—it is an idea—and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.” —Condoleezza Rice

“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.” —Frederick Douglass

“True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” – Mark Twain

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

God Bless America! Happy 250th!