This Fourth of July, flags in front of our homes are waving proudly; there’s fireworks displays here and in Kurten, and music throughout the entire July 4th weekend. We have the $5.00 shirt from Old Navy at the ready, but what do our generations today know about freedom, and its cost beyond the t-shirt? None of the Founding Fathers hesitated in declaring independence from England. No CNN polls or social media trending weighing on their decision. They had one another, like minds and spirits, and they went forth in concert together, fixed on freedom.
Patriots—a word that can’t be used enough—didn’t have the luxury of time to reflect that they’d never meet the multitude of future generations who would have life “easy” enough to throw a burger on the grill and lift an iced tea glass and say “Thanks, patriots; really appreciate you today.” Proudly, the Brazos Valley goes beyond the minimum in remembering our Founding Fathers. Ceremonies, celebrations, and rituals mean the world to us.
Thanks to the College Station Noon Lions Club, the George Bush Presidential Library, and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra collectively and Texas A&M, who re-upped in supporting our invaluable annual observation of American Independence, we share our spirit.
Some 240 years ago, leaving mother England wasn’t easy, but those who did had cause, reason, and they were willing to risk everything for their future independence. Comparatively, what it was like for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union two weeks ago? No fanfare, parade, or territory to defend or reclaim. Still, there was risk, and future outcome still unknown.
Today, despite everything in the world seemingly haywire with unrest and uncertainty, we still have faith, hope, and courage. We are Texans. We live in the Brazos Valley. We are free. By the rocket’s red glare, we see brightly, and we’re proud to be Americans. Every. Single. Day.
Ceremonies, celebrations, and rituals mean the world to us. As we mark them on the calendar, so too do we mark the passing of important lives. In grade school, we’re given the basic facts about the discovery and founding of our country. Then, in high school, we learn about the battles that were fought to create and preserve the United States of America. We next learn about our rights to vote, and how, in 1971, young people gained the right to vote at age 18, thanks to the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Celebrating independence is a ritual, just like turning 18 means you can vote. As soon as you can vote, you have a true voice.
Voices of patriots were heard here recently in the Brazos Valley as members of our local Bar Association took turns reading “The Declaration of Independence” aloud, outside the doors of the Brazos County Courthouse to help start off the Holiday weekend festivities. That activity was done in other cities as well as ours, and what was especially amazing about it is that it almost seems like something we should have been doing all along. At least we had that happening right here in the Brazos Valley this year.
Think back to when you were in your first history class in elementary or high school that you recall. You heard about “Uncle Sam” and “Founding Fathers” and the “Declaration of Independence,” in grade school, but it was probably high school until you had to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution for history class, right?
It’s funny how things we had to memorize for school as children, which took a painstakingly long time to do it (possibly up to one or two hours!) have stuck with us through our adult lives. Just hearing “We the people of the United States” may be all you need to shift right back into gear and continue:
“….in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
A more perfect union. General welfare. Blessing of liberty. Two hundred and forty years ago, some very wise people thought ahead and planned for us, as a nation, to be able to celebrate our independence again, and again, and again.
The news we see, hear and read today can, potentially, give us reason to question our carefree attitude of living in the United States of America and how it is we are ‘celebrating’ freedom this very weekend. In the past year alone, attacks aimed at Paris, Brussels, and now Turkey have wreaked havoc on the lives of those countries’ citizenry. How safe do they all feel right now?
It’s not about politics, but instead about remembering that in order to declare freedom for one’s people, for one’s country, a line is drawn in the sand. What a nation says and does to defend its freedom is its identity. And the remembrances of this weekend reflects a level of appreciation for our safety and security that we continue to defend, and have others defending for us, to this day.
May we the people, of the Brazos Valley, pause for a moment and say quiet thanks to the patriots who declared our independence, and for all those who fight to preserve same today, so that we may remain as free. God bless America and Happy 4th of July to all.
Cody D. Jones ’02
Owner and Community Member
