This 4^th of July I hope you are celebrating our country’s birthday with friends and family and honoring our cherished freedoms. Two hundred and forty-five years ago, our brave founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. These men faced momentous challenges to overcome the British and start a new nation, founded in liberty, freedom, and justice.

I am optimistic about the future of our beloved country. While it has been challenging in the last year and a few months, compared to the challenges those founders faced we have shown our strength and have pulled through as one nation under God.

May we never forget the sacrifices of those generations before us in public service, in uniform, and on the battlefield, who have given up so much so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today. God bless our great country.