“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.”

The Declaration of Independence said it best: in this country, we are all created equal and have the right to freedoms that are exclusively American. That document laid the foundation for what quickly became the envy of every freedom-loving nation on earth, and each year on July 4th, Americans come together to celebrate the liberties afforded to us as citizens of this country. 

Independence Day is also the perfect opportunity to thank those who have made it possible for us to live in freedom: our troops and veterans. When John Hancock and the rest of our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration, they knew the nation they were creating would come at an incredible cost of human life. It is estimated that as many as 70,000 Americans were killed in combat, by disease, and as prisoners of war during the Revolution. Those American heroes, and every soldier since, put their lives on the line not only to protect their fellow Americans, but also to ensure a future with endless opportunity for generations to come. Our defenders of freedom include the law enforcement officers who protect us here at home, keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe. We are extremely fortunate to have these brave men and women stationed from around the world to just down the street looking after us, and this holiday is the perfect occasion to let them know we appreciate their sacrifice. 

One of the most fundamental rights our Founding Fathers fought for was the ability to freely express ourselves and challenge the system. It has been part of the American way ever since. The freedom of self-expression is alive and well, but there’s a clear difference between free speech and violent rioting. Instead of destroying monuments dedicated to our founders and resorting to crime, we should utilize the freedoms they gave us to voice our opinions and engage in public policy. 244 years ago, Americans had to die so we could live with those rights and that’s what Independence Day is all about.  

After months of staying home, most Fourth of July celebrations in the Third District will continue as planned, giving us an opportunity to catch up with family, friends and neighbors we haven’t seen for a while. Whether it's Fulton’s annual Independence Day Parade, Eldon’s Firecracker 5k Race, the fireworks displays taking place throughout Missouri, or next to your grill in the backyard, the Third District is a great place to celebrate our nation’s independence with loved ones. On behalf of my family, I wish you all a safe and happy Fourth of July! 

CONTACT US: As always, for those of you with Internet access, I encourage you to visit my official website. For those without access to the Internet, I encourage you to call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) Washington, Mo. (636-239-2276), or Wentzville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter and Instagram.