Remember the meaning of Independence Day this holiday weekend
To the editor:
As we Americans again celebrate Independence Day I often wonder if this celebration fails to produce the true meaning of what our freedoms mean. Independence Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day do not honor and teach about the meaning and sacrifices by those who fought for these freedoms, but rather these days memorialize the car sales, furniture sales, etc. and great promotional giveaways.
As the Commander of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc. and the Military Order Of The Purple Heart – 696 here in Southwest Florida, I often wonder why many of these businesses and many times the media turn their backs on our veterans when asked to support programs that honor and teach about those sacrifices of “No Greater Love” provided by our veterans here in Southwest Florida.
We have a program here in Southwest Florida that since 2003 has provided a venue of celebration and appreciation that takes place around Veterans Day at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center named Pride And Patriotism that draws on the artistic and musical talents of our Lee County School District and Charter School students by honoring all our veterans in Lee County. Pride And Patriotism of Lee County, Inc. is a 501-c that is made possible by the many volunteer hours of our teachers, Lee County and charter school personnel, veteran organizations and many veterans. Our funding to produce this program is strictly from contributions by individuals and some our veteran organizations and very few businesses in Lee County.
Again, I know in reading this many will say this is another request for money and community involvement. But before you throw this article away and turn your back on this program I am asking that you visit our web site (www.prideandpatriotism.org) that also provides a snip-it of a past performance at BB Mann coupled with detailed information about this honored program. Businesses see how you can be recognized in our program showing your support of our students and veterans. We are not asking for thousands of dollars from your business (every few dollars) make the continuation of this program possible. Community involvement means for all our residents to support this program and honor us with your presence at Barbara B. Mann this Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. And, it is time for our local media to support this program that honor our veterans.
Again, please visit our web site and remember this 501-c is not like those organizations that pay their chiefs six-figure salaries in claim of helping veterans. We are all volunteers with some that know what it means to sacrifice and shed our blood for our great nation in the protection of our freedoms.
So when we celebrate this Independence Day with joy and fireworks, try to reflect on a beautiful quote by Helen Keller in saying, “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” And our hearts should feel the beauty when we celebrate our freedom everyday by sacrifices of those we honor.
Jack Wagner
Cape Coral