I hope you, your family and your friends have a wonderful celebration tomorrow.

When the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the signers knew that they were leading their people into an uphill fight. But, their experience in the colonies had convinced them that there was great opportunity: a land great in resources and a set of ideas that they believed was a better way to run a government and society. It was an opportunity for which it was justified to put everything on the line.

We reap the benefits of their great courage and vision. We, all of us, are among the richest people in the world. We have access to education and religion as well as the opportunity to achieve anything that we desire. Sure, there can be luck involved. Sure, it helps if you have friends in the right places. Nevertheless, you don’t have to look far (they are in every community) to find someone who started with nothing but a good idea and the desire to put it to work and created a success story.

As I write every year, our nation is set apart by this holiday. We don’t celebrate the day we achieved freedom. We celebrate the day when we decided to pursue it.

Declarations are built upon strong intentions. Goals. Visions. Teamwork. Faith.

May God Continue to Bless America!