Joe Martinez, Ed.D., is a Doctor of Curriculum & Technology, a U.S. Military Veteran, and a San Benito native.
As we stand on the precipice of our nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of “The Declaration of Independence,” I can’t help but wonder about the prelude that led to the birth of our great country and about all the events that followed thereafter.
From the founding of the Americas by Christopher Columbus to the naming of America in honor of Amerigo Vespucci, this country was founded on the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and it adopted the motto, “In God We Trust.”
Incidentally, this country was also founded on the principle that led the Puritans to set sail in search of rest, refuge, and the freedom to practice their religion as they pleased, away from British rule.
They first landed at Plymouth Colony and later established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
How can we forget that even the natives welcomed the pilgrims, teaching them how to cultivate crops and prepare for the winters to come, and that from this friendship came what can be described as the first “Thanksgiving Day” in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621.
And how can we forget our fight for freedom from British rule, when Paul Revere raced to warn the colonists of the British arrival by sea, declaring, “The British are coming,” and the valiant battles George Washington, our first president, fought to secure our freedom?
Remember that Christopher Columbus is credited with finding the Americas, but Americo Vespucio, an Italian explorer, was credited with discovering that our nation was part of a new continent, and therefore our nation is named America after him.
And in 1776, we officially signed “The Declaration of Independence” in Pennsylvania, by the brilliant men who drafted it, declaring that all men are equal and endowed by our Creator.
From that timeframe, America has endured many challenges. From the battles of Lexington and Concord to the Civil War, in which people of our nation fought each other to abolish slavery, to the wars of World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, these wars set the tone for American resilience against slavery, against tyranny, against a madman named Hitler, who attempted to exterminate the Jewish people, and for the resolve to prevent communism from overtaking a country we supported, known as the southern part of Vietnam.
From the 1990s, when the first Gulf War, called Desert Storm, took place, and I gladly served on the frontlines, to the later wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, every American service member has served valiantly to preserve our freedom, which we so greatly enjoy, and our American way of life.
Be proud of our nation and stand for our National Anthem and our American Flag, a flag that has endured so many hardships, displayed through many wars, yet has always been resilient, coming back stronger than ever.
Through our trials and tribulations, we always strive to overcome the obstacles set before us.
American patriotism has never been stronger or better than it is today.
Our flag was born of the bravery and bloodshed of many who defended this nation.
Red represents bravery, sacrifice, and the blood shed by many in its defense, while white represents purity and blue represents perseverance and justice.
There are 13 stripes for the first thirteen colonies founded by the colonists. The stars signify our 50 states of the Union.
Our flag has meaning and is to be cherished and honored, along with our national anthem, the “Star-Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key while witnessing the British attack on a fort displaying our American flag.
So, the next time you see a service member or veteran, please thank them for their service to this great nation, and stay safe this Independence Day as we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, our freedoms, and our way of life.
Most of all, I wish our great nation and its people, a happy 250th Anniversary,