On the 244th Anniversary of America’s declaration of freedom, Ambassador J. Randolph Evans offers his celebratory remarks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbNtJTlQpZA&feature=youtu.be
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Hello, or Moen, as we say here in Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. I am Randy Evans the 23rd United States Ambassador to this beautiful and influential European country.
Beside me is a copy of that wonderful document that set sail our new country, the United States of America on a wonderful journey from a rebellious group of colonies in the New World, seeking the right to determine our own destiny to becoming an independent nation, fulfilling its own destiny to be great, sometimes, even saving the world.
Today, some 244 years later, we celebrate our decision proudly made on July 2nd, 1776 and documented in writing on July, 4 1776, making life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness paramount and this document confirming our decision sounded that loud and clear. Not surprisingly, few at the time thought we Americans would actually make it through the many trials and tribulations that lie ahead as this new kid on the block made its way through times of trouble and uncertainty.
When tough times like we are facing today come along, is often easy to think that these are the toughest times our country has ever had to endure. But a simple reflection back through history easily confirms that no matter how it actually feels to us that this is simply not the case.
For example, sometimes I hear that our country has never been so divided. When I hear that and I think back to July 4th, 1863. A nation in the midst of a bloody civil war, eventually costing 600,000 lives with brothers fighting against brothers, and fathers fighting against sons.
Some say we have the most polarizing leaders we have ever had. Yet one of my heroes, Abraham Lincoln, was so polarizing that after his election, the Civil War started before he could even take office with many states defiantly refusing to ever let him be their president.
This idea that we have never had so many bad things going on at once forgets July 4th, 1918. The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history infected approximately one third of the world’s population killing an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims of which, 675,000 were Americans. Meanwhile, there was uncertainty in the world, Russia, another world power was in the middle of its own civil war with the assassination of its Czar and his family less than two weeks after Americans celebrated their independence on July 4, 1918.
To watch the news today, some think that we have never seen it so bad and fear that we can never find our way again. This kind of thinking dismisses the greatness of our country by forgetting those who died at Gettysburg at the hands of their own countrymen, fell victim to the Spanish flu in the midst of a world war, and joined the global cause to defeat tyranny in the name of freedom.
Yes, these are tough times for the world, our country, and we, Americans. Personally, I have been away from my wife Linda for 83 days, the longest since we’ve been married, serving at my post while the COVID pandemic raged all around and as my homeland struggled to heal from hurt inflicted centuries ago. But when I stand amidst the over 5000 at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, who died so that I might be free, I quickly realized that I have no real standing to complain. We Americans always rise up. It is no individual person, place, or thing that makes us who we are. We are the embodiment of our purpose. It is why our Constitution begins with “We the people in order to form a more perfect union.”
We are not perfect, and we will never be. But we can be great. And we must strive to continue for perfection, because it is who we are. Some of these burdens are ones that we impose on ourselves. Others have been thrust upon us, but as we who have steadily overcome all that is before us in our quest to form a more perfect union, which guarantees to every America fully, completely, and equally the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s who we are. And that is what this document stands for. And that is what I stand for from here, in the ceremonial offices of the Chief of Mission Residence of the United States Embassy to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Let me proudly say this. Happy Independence Day. We may be down, but we are not out. In fact, we are just getting started. God bless the United States of America.