Someone recently asked me why I am so very passionate about our rights, freedoms, government, and voting. The answer is simple but complex. It first started with the love and respect of The Declaration of Independence and our forefathers. That was followed by the love of democracy and the ability to be anything you chose to achieve. Then those loves were followed by the importance of government and why Government By The People is so invaluable to our great Nation.

I soon realized all our rights, freedoms and liberties could only be guaranteed by voting. My young adult years were heavily influenced by the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. President Reagan stated, “Every vote cast on election day means that we the people have taken a hand in shaping our nation’s future.” He also referred to voting as being your most important civic duty. There is also another quote at the end of this article that is so eloquently written I could never match his wisdom or words and that quote has been my sacred mantra to safeguard the free state we live in, here in America.

The first time I learned of the Declaration of Independence and our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it started a fire inside my soul. Those 56 men that day signed the Declaration of Independence and pledged their lives, fortunes, and their sacred honor. Many of them lost their own lives and family member’s lives for their signature that day.

Five of the men gave their lives for that signature. They were considered traitors by the British and they were tortured before they died. Twelve of the men and their families had their homes looted and burned. Two men lost their sons, and another had 2 sons captured. Nine fought and died from the results of the Revolutionary War hardships. There are additional horror stories, but I will leave you with these.

As I learned more about these times and the men who so graciously gave us our freedom with their lives, it only fueled the raging fire inside of me to never take for granted my or anyone’s freedom and to always be proactive to ensure Freedom rings.

I also found a compelling desire in me to ensure that these lives and brilliant men’s sacrifices would not be taken in vain or forgotten and the only way to do that was to ensure that we maintained our freedom by having a Republic of people, governed by a democracy of people who vote. I really think that Ronald Reagan said this best,

“Our Founding Fathers, here in this country, brought about the only true revolution that has ever taken place in man’s history. Every other revolution simply exchanged one set of rulers for another set of rulers. But only here did that little band of men so advanced beyond their time that the world has never seen their like since, evolve the idea that you and I have within ourselves the God-given right and the ability to determine our own destiny. But freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it, and then hand it to them with the well thought lessons of how they in their lifetime must do the same. And if you and I don’t do this, then you and I may well spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”

Our forefathers, US military members, members supporting our troops, public servants and anyone advocating for freedom have paid a price for defending and protecting our rights and freedom. Many have paid for those acts with the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives. So, the answer as to why I love our rights, freedoms, government, and voting is all of them were paid for by so many lives and sacrifices by so many who did not even know us. That is what fuels that desire that burns deep within my soul. That desire knows we must defend, fight, and protect all the above to enjoy the free life our forefathers gave us. That desire knows the only way to remain free is to keep voting. That desire will also affirm the next generations are afforded the same rights, freedoms, and liberties, and those freedoms are only sealed and preserved by voting.  Please go vote and do your most important civic duty to keep Freedom ringing.