What Freedom Demands of Us Now

On July 4, 1776, the United States declared independence not just from a king, but from an entire way of life. It was a bold move, a desperate cry, a sacred risk. Fifty-six delegates stood against tyranny, signing a document that would either birth a nation or seal their fate as traitors. Farmers, printers, ministers, and merchants, all unified by the belief that freedom is not granted by monarchs, but endowed by God.

The Declaration of Independence was not just penned in ink, but in blood. It was forged through suffering, exile, resistance, and survival.

Freedom Was Never Neat

Many of those early Americans were immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, who had fled the fires of religious persecution, economic oppression, and political corruption in Europe. They arrived at a land unfamiliar and unforgiving, only to meet more hardship. Some indentured themselves for years just for passage. Others were ripped from their families and forced into brutal labor under broken promises. The "American dream" was never easy. For some, it began in chains.

There was injustice, contradiction, and blood in the soil. And yet… the idea of liberty endured.

Because liberty is bigger than the moment it’s declared. It’s a seed that demands generations of toil, watering, and truth-telling.

That’s why the 4th of July still matters. Not because we ignore the pain, but because we choose to grow from it. Because people of every culture, every faith, and every background have fought to push this country closer to its ideals. Despite centuries of being silenced, many are now at the table, speaking with clarity and conviction.

We don’t celebrate perfection. We celebrate perseverance. We celebrate the right to speak, to gather, to worship, to protest, to vote. These rights were earned. And they’re still being defended.
They were defended by soldiers, by immigrants, the formerly enslaved, and Indigenous people, and by women who have long carried the weight of change in their homes, churches, and communities.

From the Declaration to the Dirt Beneath Our Feet

Here in Bartlesville, the story continues.

We’re not signing declarations, but we are making decisions that shape who gets heard, who gets helped, and who gets hope. And those decisions start locally.

Because freedom didn’t end with a declaration, it demands participation.

The 4th of July isn’t just about what was declared in 1776. It’s about what has been defended, fought for, and extended ever since. The freedom we celebrate came at a cost, and not just on battlefields. It came through protest, policy, and perseverance. People marched, built, rebuilt, and sometimes were broken by systems that denied them a voice. But they kept going.

They kept believing that justice could be more than an idea. They kept showing up at city halls, school boards, and street corners. They passed down stories, cast votes, and challenged the status quo, not because the system was perfect, but because they knew freedom had to be pushed further.

So if we’re going to honor that legacy, it can’t stop at fireworks and folded flags. It has to show up in how we shape our cities. The real celebration is in the ongoing stewardship of liberty, through local decisions, neighborhood advocacy, and collective vision.

That’s what this moment is about. That’s why civic engagement matters.
Because the work of freedom didn’t end with the founders.
It continues with us.

Here in Bartlesville, that continuation takes shape in policy meetings, property decisions, partnerships, and the everyday choices that determine how we thrive, choices that influence equity, sustainability, and the economic future of our diverse communities.

That kind of progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s made possible by those who shoulder the responsibility of civic leadership: our mayor, our vice mayor, our city manager, and our city council, who make difficult decisions with our shared future in mind. We also recognize our state legislators: Senator Daniels, Representative Kane, and Representative Strom, whose work in Oklahoma City shapes the laws and resources that affect families across Washington County. And we long to walk the halls of Washington, D.C.—not to take sides, but to take ownership. Because policy shapes people. And no matter who’s in office, it is our right and responsibility to show up, speak up, and stay engaged.

Eight months ago, I stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declared his dream. He stood in the shadow of President Lincoln, yet he was reaching back even further, to the spirit of 1776. His words challenged the conscience of a nation that had penned a promise of liberty and justice for all but failed to extend it to everyone. He was calling America to honor its original vow. That moment, etched in the soul of this country, was not separate from the Declaration of Independence. It was its echo. And today, in our cities and states, in boardrooms and classrooms, in courthouses and community centers, we carry that echo forward. Not as a whisper, but as a call to finish what was started.

Much has been accomplished, and the door is still open for those ready to help shape what comes next. So as you enjoy star-spangled donuts, savor good barbecue, and welcome the company of friends and family, take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that made this day possible. Then ask yourself: What if I gave just one hour a week to make a positive difference in my city? Whether it’s joining a neighborhood discussion, mentoring the next generation, advocating for the unheard, or simply being present where decisions are made, your presence shapes what freedom becomes next.

That’s how we honor Independence Day. Not just by remembering freedom, but by protecting it, preserving it, and passing it on.

Happy 4th of July!