July 4th 1776

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these 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.

My grandmothers family left Sweden in the 1800's because they were not allowed to change their place of worship. Every member of my family there left at that time.

My grandfathers family came from Germany during that same time

My mothers father came from England for religious freedom

My grandmothers family searched for freedom until they found it in the Great Salt Lake Valley

It is because of them I was born in a free place.

Why are you here? Some came of their own free will, some were here already, some were forced because of slavery. The real Gift, of the founding Fathers, is that they left us with documents that allow us, all of us, to live together, to solve our problems, prefect our freedoms. It's not that The United States is a perfect package. No it's the right we have to make it better, to protect what makes us free.

As women we didn't have the right to vote until the Nineteenth amendment passed in 1920. Don't ever think that your one vote doesn't' have enough power! When you cast that vote you will do it freely and not under force. Start in the most important place, right in your city or county.

Today we will celebrate, we will join friends and family and have a good time. Put your flags out. Remember how fragile, how precious, how vital your freedom is. Remember to say a prayer of thanks. We have so much.

Happy Birthday to The United States Of American