Discover & Celebrate Your American Dream!
Throughout the year, we recognize several holidays that give us a chance to celebrate our American pride. The Fourth of July is one of my favorites because it allows me to express my gratitude for our country. I’m blessed to live in this country, as it’s provided me with countless opportunities I wouldn’t get if I lived elsewhere, and that’s the true essence of the American dream. It’s the opportunity to do what we want with our lives.
I’ve always had pride in our country, but it grew tenfold after I met my husband, David. When we met, he had just returned from a deployment in Iraq. At the time, I was working at the district attorney’s office in San Diego. Our relationship grew, and David proposed right before he started another deployment to the Philippines. Planning that wedding while he was overseas was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever experienced. The military doesn’t give exact return dates, so I had to be careful when setting the date. Luckily, everything worked out, and he arrived home a few days before the wedding.
I loved that David served and was so proud of his actions and accomplishments. He joined the military shortly after 9/11 as a way to do his patriotic duty. Supporting him as his wife was my way of serving our country. Over time, we had to make the difficult decision of whether he would stay in the military. We decided it was time to
do something different, and thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to go to law school after his service ended.
Our experience is similar to many other military families, and we have these opportunities because we live in such a great country. I always take some time to reflect on this whenever the Fourth of July rolls around, as it makes me feel so appreciative to live in America. It might not be a perfect country, but it provides equal opportunities to all people of every background. I’ve always been proud to be an American. I grew up in Templeton, which epitomizes the idea of an Americana town. Every year, we had a small hometown parade where different organizations from the high school and community would walk. I was a cheerleader, so I always walked in the parade, which was a wonderful experience. Seeing everyone come together as a community to sing patriotic songs, wave their mini-American flags, and celebrate our American pride was amazing. As an adult, I even brought my kids to the celebration so they could experience it.
I am incredibly grateful to live in this country. I love to travel and experience other cultures, but nowhere feels better than right here. It’s the best place in the world to make something of yourself, start a family, and experience the thrill of the American dream.
Happy Fourth of July!
