It is almost ironic that the fireworks scheduled for  July 4th — our county’s 237 birthday — both in nearby Covington and Porterdale have been rescheduled for this weekend because of the weather since we have been under a dark cloud for the past year as our country has been rocked by scandal after scandal.

Yet, in spite of those scandals and the many scandals of years past that would have torn asunder countries that did not have a belief system that was built on determination, hard work and the strongest sense of freedom that has ever existed in the world, anywhere at any time.

Their blood of sacrifice runs strong through this land of ours; the purity of our beliefs, although tempted and challenged by men of ill will, has stayed the course and is proven by the white on our flag. The blue of our flag represents perseverance as our history proves over and over again that Americans never give up.

Certainly, sometimes it seems like our great Republic is on the brink of a big fall. A fall it if, on this birthday celebration, you forget the sacrifice that has brought us to this day and time.

We cannot accept this will happen as America is only as strong as its people. We believe its people will sound out a mighty trumpet blast of continued freedom and that America, our homeland, will continue on to celebrate its next 237 years of liberty and perseverance.

We wish you the joys of celebrating the benefits of our country’s birthday, and we hope you and your family never forget why we enjoy such a celebration. 

We also might suggest that on the Fourth, you watch the Capital Fourth brought to you on PBS — it’s guaranteed to stir your patriotic soul.