It’s hard to feel much like celebrating this Fourth of July.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, as does the list of events and activities cancelled due to it.
There is social unrest in cities and towns all across the country as people protest for equal rights and protections under the law.
Even the weather, which usually makes Highlands incredibly attractive during the hot summer months, hasn’t cooperated. The rainy days have outnumbered the sunny ones and cooler than average temperatures have made for brisk mornings and evenings on the plateau.
But as we get ready to enjoy a holiday away from work, and potentially away from the difficult realities that society has been dealing with recently, it’s important to remember that America has always battled through adversity and came out stronger on the other side.
Wars, economic collapses and even pandemics haven’t been enough to stop the American resolve. Here is a quick look at just some of the adversity that the United States has faced on previous Fourth of July’s.
• 1863 – The Battle of Vicksburg comes to an end after nearly three weeks of fighting. More than 7,000 soldiers were killed during the battle as the Civil War raged on.
• 1911 – A deadly heat wave gripped much of the country, and hit the northeast particularly hard. More than 300 people died as a result of temperatures reaching upwards of 105 degrees in New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
• 1931 – Thousands of Americans stood in bread lines and waited for rations during the Great Depression.
• 1941 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation on radio with a somber message regarding the threat of impending tyranny around the globe. Six months later the US would officially enter World War II.
While the current times may be uncertain, and at points even troubling, we need to recognize what America is made of. By working together, as a community and as a nation, our society will thrive again.
Light the barbecue grill, pour a cold beverage, and enjoy a socially distanced Independence Day knowing that 2020 will soon be in the rearview mirror.