Never More than One Generation from Extinction

On July 3, 1776, a 41 year-old patriot named John Adams sat down to write his wife, Abigail, describing the Declaration of Independence that would be signed the next day. The future president wrote, "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means."

Now 239 years later, the work continues to maintain this Declaration, and the end remains more than worth all the means. We are incredibly fortunate to be endowed by our Creator with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, as Ronald Reagan told the Republican National Convention in 1964, we can never forget that "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

On these days following July 4th, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect upon how blessed we are to live in the greatest country this world has ever known. More importantly, however, we must remember the role we all have to play in preserving our freedoms. Otherwise, as President Reagan said, "One day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."