As June begins to wrap up, it won’t be long before the citizens of the 79th Ohio House District put on red, white and blue attire and hang stars and stripes from their homes. The patriotic spirit this time of year is contagious, building up to our nation’s Independence Day on July 4th. Apple pie, cookouts, firework displays, parades—there are so many traditions that we associate with the Fourth of July. It is a time for family, fun and community, and, this year, we will come together to celebrate the 236th birthday of our great nation.

In all the excitement, we should not forget the true significance of Independence Day. All those years ago, the 13 original colonies formally separated from Great Britain, and July 4th marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The preamble of this document begins with the immortal words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” a revolutionary sentiment that would guide American democracy for centuries to come.

This national holiday also is a time to remember all those who fought in the Revolutionary War to win our freedom, and all of our men and women who have fought to preserve that freedom thereafter. The Fourth of July is a holiday truly steeped in meaning. Our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were put into place on this day, and the liberties of the American people have only grown since then. Today, we live in a democracy that is more free and inclusive than ever before, and we must never forget the moment in history that started it all.