Dear Friends,
I hope that you are enjoying your
Fourth of July with your friends and family.
I would like to share a story with
you:
It’s Independence Day, and the
United States is celebrating its birthday with a special cake. On this birthday
cake, there are 239 candles, each representing one year of democracy and
freedom. All the candles stand upright on a beautiful cake with red, white, and
blue icing.
Now before the United States can
enjoy its cake, it first must light the candles and make a wish. But these 239
candles do not ignite with just any old lighter or match. No, these candles,
these years of democracy and freedom, must be ignited with the patriotism and
blazing courage of American servicemen and women.
Thankfully, for over 239 years,
American servicemen and women from every branch of the military have selflessly
sacrificed and bravely fought to keep those 239 candles burning strong. Brave American
soldiers from every generation have sacrificed their lives to preserve the
flames of those candles, those 239 years of freedom and democracy.
It is really incredible, when you
think about it, that the United States is now 239 years old. This nation of
independence and democracy has stood strong for 239 long years. The sacred
freedoms that were proclaimed by the Declaration of Independence have been
safeguarded through the diligent service and courageous sacrifice of our
nation’s military.
This July 4th, let us
remember and appreciate our military’s sacrifice. Let us recognize and thank a
veteran today. Let us love our troops, and thank them for keeping the United
States’ candles burning strong.
To our dear readers, thank you for
supporting our soldiers, may God bless you and your family and may God bless
and protect our soldiers!
Jonathan A. Lu (7/4/15)
