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4th of July meaning My father's family settled in Southern MD in 1636, early English Roman Catholic settlers seeking religious freedom from the Cromwell Roundheads who had overthrown King Charles in Great Britain. Every generation of male Neales has fought for our country: first as British loyalists to the Crown; later as Maryland militia against the Crown; then for the United States throughout our illustrious history. The latest generation of male Neales (my oldest brothers' nephews) fought during the Gulf War I era (1990-1992) for the 82nd Airborne and Army Rangers, respectively.My family has lived and breathed American patriotism since we landed on our shores. The Founding Fathers' words ring as true today as they did in 1776. God Bless America, and God Bless our troops who defend our freedom daily across the globe. Tom Neale | ||||
OUR 4th of July Home Forty six years ago we fell in love with the possibility of a summer home, saw great new architecture of Bruce Campbell Graham, spoke with Dan Anderson, owner of the land..went to see the land..right then and there..chose the house,the plot and then on that 4th of July..house built..we all crossed the threshold together( old Scottish custom for happiness) one foot of all over and sang "Four Cheers for the Red, White and Blue.." Many years of beach life, happy easy days of safe and good times..called the house "Four Cheers"..for Scott, Sarah, Susan and Stuart. What a thrill for our family. Children all wore the colors of our nation and hold in their heart their country and home. Now we still own it and resized it for all of us two years ago...While we moved here and there..it was and is our "home"..ms | ||||
America and The Capital Fourth Program I so enjoyed the program shown from our nations' Capital on the Fourth of July. Being disabled I am unable to attend many of the local celebrations honoring our country and our freedoms. I am so grateful to live in America - so thankful for all that we stand for throughout the world - so grateful for all those who have and still are sacrificing so much that we may be free. Thank you for the opportunity to share in our nations' celebration. | ||||
hey Aemerica! i think its a time to celebrate our freedoms and free rights not just singing patriotic songs about loving our country and being with loved ones and seeing the dream that is being realized. And to give thanks to so many peope that gave up their lives and sacrificed so much for this country and being an american. | ||||
Fourth of July This day marks the day that our founding fathers stood up for us to give us the freedom of which we still enjoy today!!!! Without all the people that have and continue to defend this freedom we would not be able to enjoy this day!!!! Also this day means that I am Free!!!!!!! | ||||
Opportunity I am always reminded of the amazing opportunities available in our great country. As a woman, and mother of daughters, there are very few places in the world, even today where there are so many opportunities for women. I am proud to be an American Woman with an education and career as well as a family and daughters of my own to pass these opportunities to. | ||||
A Capitol Fourth Watching A Capitol Fourth has become a tradition in our home -- it makes us proud, moved, joyful -- we love the variety and diversity of America. thank you. | ||||
4th of July a reminder to myself of how lucky i am to be part of a country so great and free!God Bless America | ||||
fireworks @ washington capitol I just loved this years tribute to our great nation. It was done with such style and class. It makes me so proud to be an American. The tribute honored all Americans both in our pass and serving our country. Thank You for making it possible to see it on PBS stations. | ||||
What the 07/04/09 means to me Happy Fourth of July everyone! :-DFor me, this year, the Fourth of July sees the culmination of the promise set forth by the founders as we've a President elected not on the basis of ascriptive traits but on the basis of the person's merits. | ||||
| I can hardly get through the Fourth of July with a dry eye. I am so proud to be an American and I love this land more than ever! Let it forever be a beacon of hope for the entire world. With all of our problems, there is still no where in the world that I would rather be and everyone that I talk to feels the same way! God Bless America! | ||||
America The Beautiful Fourth of July means the honoring of our Country and the Celebration of the Freedom we have fought to have for decades and decades to come | ||||
Inspiring I love everything about the United States of America. There is so much greatness in this country. I love the Constitution and Bill of Rights - our leaders were truly inspired back then to formulate our government in the manner that they did. I love all the freedoms that we have. I love how we don't back down from a challenge. I love how we progress, always striving to be better. Sure, we are not perfect, but we try, and that's what counts. I am so grateful for our troops, for my family, for America. God bless America! | ||||
A Capital Fourth - Sesame St. Including Sesame Street includes children in a educational patriotic holiday that should be celebrating global freedom, equality, prosperity, & peaceful co-existence. | ||||
An Ex-Pats View of the 4th Careers with the Air Force. the American National Red Cross, and U. S. Peace Corps took me all over the world to 86 countries at last count. I was often somewhere else in the world celebrating the American 4th in unique venues. The most memorable was on Guam in 1976, America's Bicentennial. The people of Guam, "where America's Day Begins", raised an American Flag @ 12:01AM, lowered it immediately, put it aboard a Continental Airlines Flight, where it was flown to Washington, DC, and raised on the National Capital. Despite a devastating Typhoon Pamela that blew away much of the real estate, the people of Guam organized a parade that included the whole population, dressed in red, white, and blue...bicycles, tricycles, cars, floats, and bands that began early in the morning and lasted late into the afternoon. My brother, Sam, had been a marine in World War II who helped to liberate Guam from the Japanese. Nowhere in all my travels had I witnessed such a deeply felt gratitude for freedom or a more heartfelt demonstration of patriotism. Thirteen thousand miles from home, I could not have been at better place for the Bicentennial. God Bless the people of Guam and God Bless America! | ||||
Our Freedom and Our Country This day reminds me of many things. It reminds me of our Founding Fathers. The day reminds me of the freedoms we enjoy. It reminds me of the fathers and mothers "yesterday" and today who have made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom. It reminds me that in my own family my Grandmother served in the Coast Guard, and my Mother and other family members worked in factories during WWII for the war effort. I have hope that our country can one day move forward, and become a nation where everyone "comes home again." It reminds me that we should all remember how much we love our country, and "show it" and "celebrate it", not just this one day, but all year long by helping our nation become a better nation and by helping one another. | ||||
| Although we celebrate the historic event of our country’s independence, the birth of a new nation, July 4th has also come to represent the freedoms we call human rights that this country was founded upon. Those freedoms were initially restricted to a few and excluded many. But once established they became the beacon for all peoples. The fight for independence continued.... for non-land owners, for African Americans, for women…and it continues today. This country has always held a high regard for the freedoms of individuals, but it is a country formed out of great compromise among the differing points of view of the founding fathers. It grew from community, commitment, and compromise. As we celebrate Independence Day we must continue to question, redefine, and strife toward freedom and independence for ALL people, and to remember the great Indian Nations who lived proud and free in this land long before the new nation was born. Freedom and Justice for all, individual rights and community cooperation, those are difficult and often conflicting ideals. This day is a day to celebrate the great idealism behind those challenging goals. | ||||
What the Fourth of July Means to Me The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. I don't care about the fireworks or parades (though I have nothing) against them. It's just that they distract from the real meaning of this great day: Freedom.Every time I go to First Presbyterian Church -- Fort Worth I am grateful that I can go to the place of worship of my choice, not my government's choice. Every time I speak out critically of my government I am thankful that I live in a country where I can do this without fearing retribution from my government.. Every time I read a newspaper and know that it was written by free men and women (even if I disagree with their opinions) I appreciate the fact that they were able to write their opinions without the approval of the government. Every time I gather with like-minded people to protest (which I haven't done too often) or just to share ideas I am grateful that I can do so without government interference (except to time, place and manner, of course). Every time I see the flags that were placed on the caskets of my Uncle Carl and Uncle Boots I am reminded that they fought in a world war so that I (who would not be born for 15 years) could live in the free country that I just described. Every time I think that my father spent four years of his life in the Air Force (even though it was between wars) so that I could continue to live I am thankful for the sacrifice that he made for his unborn son. Every year I have a party for my family and friends so that we can celebrate freedom. I hope all of you will celebrate this tomorrow and not just every July Fourth for the rest of your lives, but for every day for the rest of your lives. | ||||
LIberating Italy World War II Dear Capitol Fourth:The Fourth Of July Celebration reminds me how the 3rd Army had librated Italy in World War II. Camera footage has been kept well preserved. One year ABC News showed camera footage of Army GIs waving as the press corp and the camera man passed by in their vehicle. One of them was my late father. The Fourth of July reminds me the many times I thought what my father was facing and how the people of Italy had seen him in the 3rd Army when General Patton and General Montgomery of the United Kingdom librated Italy together. Sincerely, James... | ||||
 | Capitol 4th Well,James, what the 4th of july means to this canuck is celebrating America's 233rd Birthday with all my freinds down in the south:) | |||
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