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Health & Fitness

Finding a piece of America

On the fourth of July early in the morning I decided to take a kayak out on the Rocky River. Serene and peaceful, it was surprisingly smooth after the recent storms.

Although there were areas where revelers were getting ready for the days festivities, there were also many along the way that much remain like when the native American Indians and early settlers were there along its banks.

I stopped to take in the sounds of water flowing and as I sat there drinking my water, I looked to to my left and nudged between a rock where water slowly trickled, a piece of cloth caught my eye. I reached over to pick it up, and was surprised by what I had found – A small battered American flag.

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Although small in stature, It made me wonder where it came from. It also made me realize even more the importance of the day. Most American’s, like with Christmas, who forget the true meaning of it think the Fourth of July is just a day off from work.

It's more than that. It's about our heritage, its about why we are here today.

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Over 200 years ago, a group of five men, which included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, prepared a declaration of Independence from British Empire. One of them, John Adams, who became our second president wrote his wife that “He is apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as a great anniversary festival.”

Adams, who along with Jefferson later died on the fourth of July was right. The day has since been celebrated by generations of people, many like my grandmother who had just a chest of her belongings when she boarded a boat for Ellis Island to see Lady Liberty and fulfill the dream of what Jefferson had written in the Declaration.

“We hold the 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.”

As I held that little flag in my hands, it made proud to think of the sacrifices many gave so that our generation would be able to do the same even if we endure many hardships. It made me recall a story an Uncle of mine told me about WWII. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the costliest in terms of casualties for the United States, he was shot by the Germans and injured.He had no regrets and fought because he, like many of the men and women who serve today, believe that our families should be able to continue to 'reap the blessings of freedom' something Thomas Paine, who was instrumental in the founding of our country believed in.

That little flag made me also recall more about my heritage and how the Spirt of 76 affects the ideals we stand for and why individuals in other countries immigrated here to do what Abraham Lincoln once dreamed of, 'to live in the last best hope on earth.'

Later in the evening along with some friends, as that little flag I now have dried, I did the same thing Adams hoped would carry on for generations and celebrated along with thousands of others the tradition of the United States as we listened to the pomp and circumstances while watching a glorious display of fireworks.

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