CRESTVIEW — This past weekend, we celebrated the 245th birthday of the United States of America. How did you and your family celebrate? Did you participate in the activities at Twin Hills Park?
I enjoy fireworks and love to see a big display. It is nice that things like our festivities weren't cancelled and that we could celebrate as a community here in Crestview.
What does our country mean to you? Do you value your freedom and the independence we have in this country? The fact that we can travel from state to state and even leave the country? Are you happy with your state? If not, you are free to find a job in a different state and move.
Sometimes we take our freedom for granted. We are very blessed to live in a country where we can worship at the church of our choice, work in the profession we choose, attend the schools of our choice and drive the cars we like. We are blessed that we have the freedom to make our own choices.
There are those that say we have too many choices, but I disagree. That is part of what makes our country wonderful, our freedoms, our liberty and the ability to make our own choices.
Here is the definition of liberty (http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Liberty): "Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty when not checked or controlled. A man enjoys liberty when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions."
As you can see, freedom and liberty are words that can be used interchangeably and we need to cherish our liberty and freedom.
The Pledge of Allegiance states: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." These are good words to remember not only during our celebration of Independence Day, but every day.
I hope that you and your family took some time to reflect on the lives that were lost when our country broke away from Britain, and the hardships and danger that accompanied that war for our independence.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our founding fathers and those who wrote our Constitution and paved the way for our freedom!
Remember, that freedom isn't free. It always has a price. Thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so much to make us a free nation.
Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: Celebrating our freedom and Independence Day