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Ah, another Fourth of July. Picnics, fireworks and friends come together to celebrate America. As the sky lights up with explosions of sound and light, it is important to remember what we are honoring with such excitement and fervor.

In 1776, men from every corner of America met together in an open act of defiance. They signed the Declaration of Independence, a document containing more than just words: Hope, the possibility of a better tomorrow and, most of all, the freedom to live as they chose.

With these positive and honorable pursuits, however, came great risk. The signers must have known that such a declaration would mean the possibility of war and death. Nevertheless, they deemed the cause so important that they were willing to risk all to achieve it.

Only after “repeated injuries and usurpations” do we reveal who we truly are. Our American spirit displays itself most prominently in times of adversity. Today, our fight for liberty has become garbled, our patriotism taking many forms. The nation stands divided on many fronts, clashing rather than conversing.

It seems we have partly forgotten the ideal of our hard-earned independence. Independence is a strong word, one not to be taken lightly. Today, not all people can claim to be free. Our own independence must be maintained through vigilance and respect.

The day we take our freedom for granted is the day we risk losing it. We should be grateful for what we have and seek to keep our hearts open for those who are not so blessed.

On Independence Day, it is a time for celebration of our freedom, but perhaps it also is a time for remembrance and reflection on those who have come before us. Many proud American citizens have labored, and many have died, to keep America’s ideals strong, through times of terrible suffering and glorious living.

Freedom must be invested in again and again. We face a future of great change, for better or for worse, and we should all think about how we will react. Freedom is a double-edged sword. With it comes the ability to solve problems or the ability to create them. This choice is the greatest thing we can give to any human, and we should be proud to have that right when we gaze open-mouthed at crackling fireworks on the Fourth of July.

It has been said that our greatest strength is diversity. Americans from every walk of life need to support their country, however that takes shape. The opinions of us all, should be weighed with equal consideration. Together, we will make the choices that will guide us through a troubling time.

Blindly flailing forward without forethought or consideration will leave us divided and without allies. So, will we bond together or force ourselves apart? This Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day, should be a time for all of us to spend time together, remembering the past yet looking to the future.

Zach Levonia is a junior at Onalaska High School.