On this 4th of July we ask..........

Who are we?    We are heirs to the blessings of Liberty which God has entrusted to us.

What is our duty?    Our duty to God and Country is to seek to extend the fullness of these blessings to others and to protect and defend these blessings for those who will come after us.

How is this achieved?    Liberty can only be secured by creating a culture or society which nurtures a sense of right and wrong, promotes individual responsibility and provides opportunity for all.

If we believe we are "endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights" that include life and liberty, we have a responsibility not to impair the life and liberty of others.  Our journey to live up to this ideal is difficult.  We are imperfect but we are improving.  This year is the 150th observance of the Civil War.  The events of this time in our nation's history remind us of, both how far we have come, and how far we have to go, to remove the barriers to the blessings of liberty which confront some people.

We must continue to work to advance the cause of freedom.  In our pursuit of improvement we must hold high the principles of liberty, opportunity and personal responsibility lest we yield to slavery, controlled existence and state regulation.  When speaking of the Athenians, Edward Gibbon wrote, "In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security."

On this July 4th may we seek greater understanding of the requirements the preserving of freedom places on us.  May we, with courage, assume the personal responsibility freedom demands.  And may we never succumb to the promise of security in place of freedom.

In appreciation of your friendship,

Bradford L. Sims