Today, Americans celebrate our independence from tyranny. I cannot express in words the level of gratitude and joy to be an American.
I grew up all over this magnificent nation as the daughter of a career Air Force officer. My sisters and I learned about patriotism and respect for American values from the moment we were born.
I don’t remember a time when there wasn’t a flag flying in front of my home.
When my dad got orders to move to Germany in 1975, I was devastated! I was heartbroken that I wouldn’t be IN the US for the Bicentennial in 1976. I spent weeks trying to talk my parents into letting me stay in the states with an aunt and uncle. I became even moodier than a typical 13-year-old girl. In the end, I found joy volunteering to ring the bell in the base chapel on July 4, 1976 as part of the nationwide celebration of our Republic.
When I became an adult, it was a no-brainer to me that I would enlist in the Air Force and serve my country. During my time on active duty I was stationed in Greenland, Italy and Germany with a single, one-year tour of duty in the US. I was proud to serve and proud to wear that uniform every day.
Living overseas makes you appreciate being an American! You see and hear first-hand the differences in the way people in other nations live. Along our travels, particularly to former communist countries like the Czech Republic and Hungary, you’ll often hear the yearning many people have to come to the USA, to become US citizens.
There is nothing better than being an American! We enjoy the freedom to travel the world, the freedom to state our opinions, the freedom to be who we want to be, and the freedom to vote for the people who represent us. On this day when we celebrate our nation’s independence, I am particularly proud to be an American.
There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. Let your travels remind you how fortunate we are to be Americans.
Happy Independence Day to you all.
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