George Washington (1732-1799) was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and served as the first President of the United States of America (1789–1797).For his essential roles in both war and peace, he is often referred to as the father of his country.

How lost are we to know this day not, to think of it in any way which is not of the American Revolution, to forget the struggle there. The memory of the immense hardship, pain, and worry that was diced amongst the soldiers who secured the freedom of a fledgling nation. Whose agonies, which survive only in schoolroom stories or in some author’s minds eye, can never be forgotten. We celebrate every thing which has nothing to do with the birth of this great nation. To dwell in the past is useless, but to remember the heritage which secures your pleasure now is essential.

Do not jade the ghosts of that former strife which yielded up the land and the country which we now honor every day, do not forget the land of our forefathers and mothers, do not blaspheme the memory of the spilt blood which is still soaked into the land, do not be one of those who only cares about the dollars which can be made on this most sacred of holidays.

This day is the one day we use to celebrate the foundation of the independence and freedom we enjoy, from the birth of a citizen to their death, their life is full of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We, as American citizens can enjoy freedoms which others can only dream about or envy; we are a nation of truly gifted individuals. Do we not care for its foundation or its past history? We can not be expected to make this one thing last forever if we do not remember its beginnings. We must treasure the jewel of a life we are allowed to have here in America because of the men and woman who took a chance to yell freedom from the roof tops and belfries all across the colonies, which were under foreign oppression. We are Americans one and all, it is not so much that we are of one voice as we are of one mind, heart and soul for the love of this country, which we cherish.

Through the fireworks and the celebrations, we must remember that the fun we enjoy on this day in mid-summer is not ours to have unless we understand that we are dancing to the fife and drum of fallen soldiers. And to those of you who are new to the fourth of July or who have forgotten why you came here to America, this is our holiday, which some of us know to be sacred and have fought in wars to continue to preserve.