EDMOND — It was 233 years ago that founder John Adams, speaking about the birth of our nation, predicted that the July anniversary would be “celebrated by succeeding generations” as a great festival that “ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” The Massachusetts founder’s prescription for paying tribute to the day included “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
On that first July occasion, he also acknowledged the “toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost” to maintain and defend this nation. All these years later, John Adams’ words continue to ring true.
This Fourth of July, millions of Oklahomans will join with other Americans to celebrate the birth of liberty in the United States. We have celebrated this birthday during times of peace and times of war, times of great prosperity and times of great difficulty, times of confidence and times of uncertainty. Regardless of the circumstances, Americans across the world commemorate this day in the way Adams envisioned.
What then of the sacrifice? Adams and the other signers of the Declaration of Independence knew that their stand for liberty and independence would come at a great price. During the Revolutionary War, many of these brave men lost their fortunes and possessions, fought side-by-side with the volunteers of the militia and gave their life and the lives of their loved ones for the sake of liberty. Through it all, they never gave up their vision of freedom from tyranny.
The sacrifices made by these early Americans began a tradition that each succeeding generation has carried on, paying a high price to defend this nation, our freedoms and the freedoms of others. Often, the cost of freedom has demanded the blood of our men and women on the battlefield.
Since Oklahoma statehood in 1907, many in our state have had a long and proud tradition of serving the country through military service. Through two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts, many Oklahomans have paid the ultimate sacrifice in a foreign land while fighting for this nation. We are eternally grateful to generations of Americans, past and present, for guaranteeing the freedom our founders envisioned at the birth of our nation. They made America the greatest nation on earth.
Thankfully, the tradition of volunteers willing to defend freedom is not just something for the history books. American patriots still exist today. I have seen them fighting on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. I have talked to them where they are stationed around the globe. Today, more than 3,000 Oklahomans are deployed in support of the War on Terror and more than 30,000 have deployed since Sept. 11, 2001. These patriots today are paving the way for future generations to enjoy Fourth of July celebrations. As long as this country produces such heroic individuals, we will remain free.
As we celebrate this Fourth of July, mere words will never fully express the gratitude this nation owes to those who have served and continue to serve. May we celebrate this day with the grandeur it deserves and with the solemn recognition and gratitude to those who have made it possible.
U.S. SEN. JIM INHOFE, R-Okla., is a senior ranking member on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
Opinion
American patriots still exist today
- Opinion
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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What are your presidential 10 Commandments?
As we brace for the upcoming presidential campaign, we should be honest about our responsibility in the process. Before we get pushed, pulled, bribed, frightened, bullied, flattered, fooled or charmed into voting for a candidate, let’s take a mature thoughtful look at what the profile of the president should look like. In order to do that, let’s do an exercise. Sit down with a pencil and paper and draft your proposal for the Ten Commandments to be obeyed by the president. Let me share some of my suggestions.
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What would Reagan do today in Oklahoma?
As we celebrated the 101st anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, several of us at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs started discussing what Reagan might do today. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.
- LETTER: School counselor says Roy ready to help all students
- LETTER: Supporter calls Duncan 'a firecracker'
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Consequences of an overregulated nation
Overreaching government regulations are costing jobs and killing our economy. They are a heavy burden on our nation and its citizens — in some cases worse than our nation’s increasingly out-of-control debt.
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LETTER: Supporter: Duncan shows passion for children’s needs
To the Editor:
The families in the Edmond Public School District are fortunate to have Kathleen Duncan as their advocate on the Edmond Board of Education. Duncan has worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of the Edmond schools’ students. -
LETTER: Teacher supports Duncan’s re-election
To the Editor:
On Feb. 14 patrons of District 2 have an opportunity to re-elect the current president of the Edmond School Board, Kathleen Duncan. Duncan has served as a board member for 10 years. When people move to the Oklahoma City area, they buy a home here because of the exceptional quality of Edmond Public Schools. This speaks to Duncan’s goal of “Excellence in Education for All Edmond Public School Students.” -
LETTER: Supporter: Duncan understands diverse issues
To the Editor:
Kathleen Duncan understands the diverse issues that effect our schools. She carefully studies the district’s issues and works tirelessly as an advocate for all students. Her votes as a board member have an impact for years to come and she takes that responsibility very seriously. - LETTER: Reader says incumbent's personal agenda in the way
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
