Kim McMahill

The list of July holidays and silly events is short, but one is very important, Independence Day. The Fourth of July is the birthday of our nation. It’s the day we celebrate and enjoy the benefits of the freedom which the framers of the Declaration of Independence signed and ultimately fought for. Freedom means freedom for all, not just a group who share a certain set of ideals. I hope this day can mark the day in 2022 when we set aside our differences, put away the hate, and focus on what it means to be free. I also hope our politicians reaffirm their commitment to their oath of office, the Constitution, and their obligation to the American People. Public service is to serve the public not oneself.   July 4 - Independence Day July 5 - National Bikini Day July 20 - National Hot Dog Day July 22 - Hammock Day

Thomas Jefferson led a committee that crafted the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776 Jefferson and representatives from the thirteen colonies voted and approved it.   The Declaration of Independence declared our independence from British rule, but it took winning the Revolutionary War to assure the existence and freedom of our fledgling country. So each year on July 4, we celebrate the birth of our nation.   Every day we enjoy the benefits of the freedom which the framers signed and ultimately fought for, and on Independence Day we celebrate with parades, family gatherings, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and fireworks, to name a few. Enjoy the day, but also remember that as responsible citizens of the greatest democracy on earth we need to be cognizant that exercising our individual freedoms do not give anyone the right to endanger others or trample on someone else’s freedom, and democracy is not a government representing a few, it is a system of g...