Juneteenth Freedom Day Plus 1776 Equals Our America

  As I read the coverage of Revere’s first Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration in the Revere Advocate, I just wanted to say that I attended it with a sense of pride and a positive step for America. Our nation has faced bumps along the way. We continue to learn who we were and who we have become as we continue to grow into an even better nation.

  There is far too much division and rancor today as some among us seek confrontation. Rage gets pushed, stoking the flames of anger. Today, I see far too many wingnuts out there attempting to push us to opposite corners like in a boxing ring. The news media has become despicable as have hateful politicians who seem to enjoy tearing our nation apart at its seams.

  For me, Juneteenth Freedom Day is an important date for all of us to remember with pride because it is a date in history that brought the words on the Declaration of Independence to life. Our founders said all men were created equal in 1776 under the law but slaves weren’t freed until 1863 and it wasn’t until 1865 that the news of that Emancipation finally reached the ears of slaves in that outpost called Texas.

  Also, it has not been forgotten by me that my immigrant grandmothers couldn’t vote until 1920. America started as an ideal but it took long struggles and a civil war to make words on paper a reality.

  I believe as America prepares for its 247th birthday coming up on July 4, we need to be honest with each other about our past but we should never feel ashamed of who we are – constantly trying to be a more perfect union for all. We are a lot closer today than we were in 1776.

  Celebrate who we are on July 4 and I will always be thankful for my immigrant grandparents who left behind everything to come to this place called America. Two came from Sicily and the other two from Ireland. They never met each other but they came here with the same dreams for themselves, their children and grandchildren, etc.

  I am an American and proud of my heritage and I still believe too many don’t understand how lucky they are. God Bless the USA.