DEM RADIO ADDRESS: Senator Tuttle says the Fourth of July is an opportunity to put aside our differences and take pride in what it means to be an American

For many of us, celebrating the Fourth of July means parades and fireworks, and picnics and BBQs. The holiday weekend is a chance for us to spend time with our family and our friends enjoying Maine in the summer.

It’s also an opportunity for us all to take pride in what it means to be an American–to put aside our differences and remember our similarities—namely our love of our country.

Good morning, this is State Senator John Tuttle of Sanford.

On July 4, 1776 in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer, the members of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence has become one of our nation’s most cherished documents—a symbol of liberty and freedom that has inspired people all over the world for more than two centuries.

The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence risked their lives to affirm that we are all created equal, and that we have certain unalienable rights: including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As a veteran of the National Guard, these words have a special meaning to me. Like my fellow servicemembers and veterans, I took an oath to protect and defend our state and our country. To fight for our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The men and women who enlist in our armed forces promise to fight for all of us—not just for those who agree with them, who share their political views and belong to the same political party.

Because no matter our politics, we are all Americans. We are proud of our country and our shared values—especially the values written down more than 200 years ago in Philadelphia.

A few years after that momentous event, our second president, John Adams, said that our country’s birthday should be celebrated with pomp and parade, with shows and games and bonfires.

We still follow his advice today–parades and fireworks on the Fourth of July are a beloved tradition.

But celebrating the birth of our country is not just about parades and fireworks. It is also about what makes us Americans—what unites us despite our disagreements.

America is the greatest country in the world because of our shared values—our commitments to freedom and democracy—and our pride and love of our country.

It is this love of America that leads many families to leave their homes and everything they have known to build a new, better life here in America. A life built on a promise made in 1776 of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We all share these values. It’s what makes us Americans—whether our family has been here for centuries or we are part of the first generation to call America home.

We are all Americans, and we are all proud to celebrate our country.

Thank you for listening. This is State Senator John Tuttle of Sanford. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

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