Allow me to be the first to wish you a happy Fourth of July!

Today, we celebrate a moment that forever changed the course of history for the better — when America’s brave founding fathers declared independence from Great Britain. 

On July 4, 1776, our founders declared that all men are created equal and that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. They declared that their descendants would never again be oppressed by the government as they took steps to create a government that embodies individual freedom and protects liberty. 

Freedom is what has made the United States the best nation in the entire world. Protecting that freedom, however, is never an easy task. 

For our entire history, men and women have fought on battlefields to stand up against tyranny and protect our freedoms. So as we celebrate our Independence Day, I encourage you to take a moment to remember and thank all those who have fought for that independence. 

It can never be taken for granted. Happy Independence Day, and may God bless the USA!