Fourth of July Message from the 26th District

June 29, 2010

July 4th 2010: The Price of Independence

Chris Miller places a memorial wreath dedicated in honor of our fallen soldiers. The Ridgebury Congregational Church is one of the many places in our district which commemorates the sacrifices that built our great nation.

Chris Miller places a memorial wreath dedicated in honor of our fallen soldiers. The Ridgebury Congregational Church is one of the many places in our district which commemorates the sacrifices that built our great nation.

July 4th 2010: The Price of Independence

The Ridgebury Congregational Church celebrated its 250th anniversary this Memorial Day with a moving tribute to the soldiers interred in its historic ceremony. Following a benediction honoring the fallen for their service to America, the congregation proceeded to Ridgebury Cemetery, where a memorial wreath was dedicated to their sacrifice. This cemetery is the final resting place of Ridgefield natives who fought for the freedom and safety of their country from the days of the American Revolution through the Korean War. 

The deeds of these veterans and of other patriotic Americans past and present will take on a special significance this Sunday. As the nation prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July our concerns run to family, friends, fireworks, barbecues and parades; yet underlying this modern celebration is the long and complex history of American independence. Although the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, formally severing the 13 colonies from British rule, that document represented American traditions of liberty and law that long preceded it’s signing.

The colonists who first settled this country personified the spirit of self determination we celebrate today. Though nominally subjects of the King of England they governed themselves according to their own laws; laws which recognized the rights that had eluded them for so long. The meeting halls they established encouraged the kind of deliberation that continues to drive our public affairs. These first settlements formed the seed of a great society dedicated to liberty and the rule of law. Free from British intervention, the mores and customs of the American people were already being established.

The Declaration of Independence represents the culmination of these early efforts. As such it is a testament to our first statesmen. As we celebrate the signing of this document, we also honor the men who dedicated their lives to the principles of freedom and self rule. In the struggle for independence, many of the 56 men who signed the Declaration would pay dearly for their courage. Five of them were executed by the British as traitors, and nine more would be killed fighting in the revolution. Many had their families’ lives threatened, or faced destitution as the British seized their property. Through their many sacrifices these men set an example of courage that endures to this day. As you watch the fireworks this Fourth of July, I invite you to remember our fallen soldiers who have given their lives to the preservation of liberty.

The Westport Saugatuck Congregational Church, under the direction of Mary Ann West,   and in cooperation with the communities of Westport, Weston and Wilton found a very special way to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf. 5,536 flags, representing all the servicemen and women who have perished since September 11th, were placed on the front lawn of the church as a visual statement of support and caring for our fallen soldiers.  One of these flags was placed for Nick Madaras, whose mother and father attended the ceremony from Wilton.  This important display of respect and patriotism speaks volumes about the community, and is a daily reminder of the cost that accompanies our freedoms.