I have a bit of patriotism that runs through me. It is probably that way for many people. I’m a third generation American, and the number of my family members with military service is in the double digits. Not surprisingly, I have daughters with the middle names of Independence and Rebel. (Don’t worry. They have normal first names.)

Although I grew up with bottle rocket wars that made me have a dislike for fireworks, I loved the Fourth of July. My family would gather, make ice cream, grill some hot dogs, allow unsupervised children to shoot bottle rockets at one another, play horseshoes…My mother in particular always seemed grateful for the military service of her brother and cousins. It has always stuck with me that celebrating our freedoms is part of honoring those who helped us have them. On this Independence Day, may you remember your past while celebrating the future.