[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 96 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FOURTH OF JULY MESSAGE FOR THE TROOPS

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, 235 years ago this weekend, 
John Adams proclaimed that July 2 would mark the most memorable epoch 
in the history of America. It was on that day the Continental Congress 
declared the 13 colonies free and independent of Great Britain's Crown. 
It was 2 days after that when Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of 
Independence was adopted.
  And when did Americans first celebrate their independence?
  Philadelphia threw a big party on July 8, 1776, including a parade 
and the firing of guns. George Washington, then camped near New York 
City, heard the news on July 9 and celebrated then. But in 1781, 
Massachusetts became the first State to recognize July 4 as a State 
celebration. Ten years later, the young Nation's celebration was dubbed 
Independence Day.
  This Independence Day I hope every American will stop and think for 
just a minute about our freedoms--and just how much we owe those who 
came here long before us and mutually pledged to each other their 
lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And let us also remember 
the young men and women who have died in defense of those freedoms.
  We traditionally observe the Fourth with fireworks and fanfare, pomp 
and parade. But today we remain engaged in far-away struggles to 
promote and protect the rights of others who, like us, value freedom 
and independence. Many of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and 
coastguardsmen are spending their Fourth in Iraq and Afghanistan and 
other parts of world.
  I recently was reminded of the commitment and selfless sacrifice 
demonstrated by one of America's World War II veterans, who lives in my 
State of Florida.
  U.S. Army SSG Robert Rickel, of Boca Raton, served as a waist gunner 
on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Sergeant Rickel survived the daring bombing 
campaign of Schweinfurt, Germany, in October 1943, and was awarded the 
Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism or extraordinary 
achievement.
  Sergeant Rickel and all the military members and all their families 
knew the risks and sacrifices they were making were worth it. As 
President Reagan once said, ``Some things are worth dying for . . . 
democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable 
form of government ever devised by man.''
  Indeed, our democracy is something to celebrate. Mr. President, I 
wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July.

                          ____________________