Within an hour after waking up on the morning of Declaration of Independence Day, July 4, 2024, I tuned into a livestream of a citizenship ceremony at Monticello in Virginia. Later, as has become my custom, I watched the livestream of the Declaration of Independence Ceremony at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
There were wonderful remarks made at both ceremonies, and I think about them this month, since September 17 marks the anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution.
One major theme that I noticed was the idea of putting in the effort to make much of the principles upon which this nation was founded. At the Monticello ceremony, the keynote speaker Misty Copeland talked about how amazing it is to live in this country steeped in these principles, and how we can realize a great life for ourselves through hard work and opportunity. At the National Archives ceremony, Archivist Dr. Shogan said that the rights listed in the opening part of the Declaration of Independence are self-evident, but not self-executing. The keynote speaker, JoAnne Bass, who rose to be an Air Force officer, talked about the principles of working hard and for all people serving this country in some way as a way to uphold it.
I was glad that I woke up and had the chance to watch some of the Monticello ceremony in time because it's so inspiring to see people from all over the world choose to become US citizens and exert all the effort to make it happen. They clearly realize there's something special about this country, and it's worth the effort to be citizens of it.
I hope their example continues to inspire us to make something of our founding principles. The US Constitution put the Declaration of Independence's principles in action as we the people work them out in our national experience.
Like Ms. Bass said, we should keep learning, because that will help us be informed citizens who can make much of the great gift of this country and the structure that upholds its founding principles.
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