Yesterday, I had the honor of marching in the Desoto 4th of July parade with Charlie Groeteke and our Public Administrator, Steve Farmer. We proudly carried our Pachyderm banner and even more proudly, Steve wore his veteran's cap. I have to say it was a very large parade with many floats from numerous organizations in the Jefferson County area. It was great to see all the people wishing each other "Happy 4th of July".
Many people lined the streets, waving, taking pictures and enjoying this great holiday. Kids were kept busy trying to catch the candy thrown from the numerous wagons, trucks and trailers.
My hope is that we enjoy this patriotic holiday but, that we also remember the thousands of lives lost giving us our freedoms. It is the duty of adults to remind children that we would not be a free country without our brave men and women protecting that freedom. Unfortunately, our government has seen fit to take away the freedoms we were given through our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Lately our freedom of speech, our right to bear arms, our religious freedoms and our freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has been greatly curtailed by our very representatives in Washington, in particular President Obama. They spy on us through bank accounts, wire tapping, police pursuits, arrests, the IRS, our employers, our schools, our computers. I feel as though one night I will wake up and the government will be standing in my bedroom.
The only way to put a stop to this huge, overpowering government is through knowledge and being involved in your government. The Jefferson County Pachyderms offer both - COME JOIN US and get to know the issues that will affect your life and your children's lives.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
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