[Bob Tanner]

A couple of days ago Indygirl posted a thread taking July 4th as an occasion to thank all of us who have served our country. It was a wonderful gesture which I, and I'm sure all the vets here deeply appreciate. Speaking for myself, my Naval career is insignificant, compared to those who have given so much more.

However, tomorrow is Independence Day, the day which we celebrate our breaking away from England and embarking on the greatest experiment in individual freedom the world has ever seen.

May I humbly ask your indulgence to take a moment and forget about the BBQ, the fireworks, the beer and hot dogs, and we vets. Please take a brief moment to thank those brave men who put their lives and their fortunes on the line and did what it took to ensure that you and I are free today. A few would be: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, James Madison, John Adams, George Mason, Thomas Payne, John Locke, Patrick Henry, and many more.
I posted the first few paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence below. Maybe it's been awhile since some of you have read it, and maybe some of the younger members here have never been instructed in it, in government school. It's a wonderful piece of work.

Thanks to all of you for your indulgence.

May God bless the United States of America.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...

[TN_Gal]

Thanks for the reminder Bob....these days we forget that things were sooo different just a couple hundred years ago.....those were definitely men that formed the direction of this country. If it wasn't for them one can only wonder how things would have gone....

HAVE A SAFE A HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE ! ! !

[LSC9901]

I'm with you Bob only my military career was even less significant than yours ... far shorter. I did manage another 32 years with Uncle though. Tomorrow I will be enjoying the fruits of all those before me, and ever so thankful they did what they did.

[coolhand]

Thank you Bob for posting this. Very thoughtful of you.

Have a safe and happy 4th!

Mike

[Quality88]

Thanks Bob. I'll never forget about what the fourth is all about. I hope no one does.

[Team Yates]

I want to add my 2 cents worth. Thanks to all the past, present and future "leaders" and military who have given their lives to shape our nation into what it has become. A land where we have the freedom to see, say and do what we want to whenever and however we want to. My utmost respect to all who have fought for our freedoms, those who have been injured or maimed for our freedoms and those who have lost their lives for our freedoms!! Thanks to all past, present and future defenders of our freedoms and nation. God bless us all!! I know it's a bit late, but I was nowhere near a computer yesterday.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

I was nowhere near a computer yesterday.

What kind of GoTeamsGo fan are you Yatesy ????

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

What kind of GoTeamsGo fan are you Yatesy ????

I might not have been here yakking, but never the less, I was yakking away about our forum to everybody where I was spending the day!!!!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

I might not have been here yakking, but never the less, I was yakking away about our forum to everybody where I was spending the day!!!!

Me too. Everytime I go anywhere there are NASCAR fans I try and talk this site up. Don't know if I've gotten anybody on to it but it won't be from the lack of trying.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Me too. Everytime I go anywhere there are NASCAR fans I try and talk this site up. Don't know if I've gotten anybody on to it but it won't be from the lack of trying.

ditto.....