Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Celebrating America

Today we celebrate the 249th anniversary of America’s founding. With the Declaration of Independence, our founders sought to overthrow tyranny with a simple and self-evident idea.  They knew that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights.  Our founding ideals of freedom, justice, and equality have guided our country for nearly 250 years. 

 America is the greatest country the world has ever seen.  We must not forget how truly revolutionary the idea “all men are created equal” is.  Our commitment to self-government began with the founders’ commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Now, more than ever, we must strive to live up to these principles. 

 We ought to be grateful we live in Nebraska.  In Nebraska, we know that America is always worth celebrating.  We understand and respect the values that made America great.  We believe in faith, family, and freedom.  We’ve proven that smaller, more accountable government works best.  That’s why Nebraska is what America is supposed to be. 

We should also remember that freedom is something we only achieve together by taking on the responsibilities of citizenship.  In the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, “The winning of freedom is not to be compared to the winning of a game—with the victory recorded forever in history.  Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirits of men and so must be daily earned and refreshed.” We must be purposeful to pass our values to the next generation. 

Our country has faced many challenges, from world wars to economic downturns to global pandemics.  Through them all, we have stayed true to our founding values.  We defeated fascism.  We won the Cold War.  We put a man on the moon.  We created a land of opportunity that continues to attract people from around the world. 

As we display the U.S. flag this holiday weekend, we’re reminded of the brave Americans who’ve sacrificed through the years to preserve our Republic.  We also give thanks for the women and men actively serving in our military on missions around the world. 

This Independence Day, we celebrate not only our past, but our future.  Next year, we will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The Trump administration is planning a full year of celebrations to honor this historic milestone. 

Please take a moment to read the Declaration of Independence and consider the timeless truths within it.  Let’s strive to be worthy of the sacrifices made by those who came before us to protect our freedoms.  Let’s recommit ourselves to passing on the blessings of liberty to the next generation. 

Happy Independence Day, Nebraska! And God bless America! 

 My team and I are here to serve you.  Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224.  You can also view my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.