07/09/2025
This past week, we asked employees to share photos showing what the 4th of July means to them. We received many great submissions—but one employee’s words and images stood out so deeply, we felt they needed to be shared in full:
"Independence Day, to me, is the start of the story of liberty and peace. Just a couple decades later, England, and by extension Canada, would once again wage war with the fledgling United States of America in the War of 1812. At its conclusion, the US, England, and Canada would become some of the most steadfast allies the world had ever seen – 200 years later, this is no less true. The US and Canada share the longest undefended border in the world and are partners in all that they do, including the formation of the binational defense agreement, NORAD, established 57 years ago.
The first picture is Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial on South Bass Island, Lake Erie, Ohio; it is named after Commadore Oliver Hazard Perry and stands as a symbol of the longest lasting peace treaty between three nations to ever exist and it commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie from the War of 1812. It is seen here with a Catawba sunset fading behind it on July 4th.
The second picture is what Peace, Freedom, and Liberty really means to me. With Perry’s Monument in the background, a ferry is approaching its mainland destination after taking families out to Kelly’s Island. But the focus here is one of my sons; no worry, no fear, the only stress being that of why he isn’t catching any fish. This is why men and women have risked everything, fought, and volunteered to do hard things.
Independence Day means Peace, Freedom, and Liberty; the likes many parts of the world may never know."
We hope all of you enjoyed your Independence Day this past weekend—celebrating the freedom, peace, and connections we’re all fortunate to share today and every day.