I’m Proud to be an American

Queue Lee Greenwood’s single, and a river of tears!

Independence Day means something different when you’ve watched someone you love serve this country. It becomes more than fireworks and barbecues—it becomes personal.

I’m proud to be an American. I’ve seen—a glimpse— of what it takes to protect this country. I’ve seen the impact that choice has on our family, our plans, and the shape of our everyday life.

So when the fireworks go off and the flags are waved, I will celebrate. But I will also feel the weight.

Because Independence didn’t come easy, & freedom isn’t free.

The Sacrifice

This day reminds me of the holidays we’ve spent apart. The family photos with one person missing. The ache of watching your child grow while their parent is somewhere else in the state, in the country, in the world— serving a purpose bigger than all of us.

It reminds me that behind every parade, there are people who quietly endure—the ones who hold down the home front, put on a brave face for their kids, or grieve the loss of loved ones. The ones who are in the service, missing the birthdays, the holidays, the ones who put on a brave for their kids and fellow soldiers, the ones who are missing their families and the comfort of their own bed.

The Tension of Gratitude & Grief

This year, like every year, I’ll feel a swell of pride when I hear the national anthem. I’ll probably excuse myself to cry, when Lee’s song comes on. I’ll pause during the fireworks and think about the families who are spending today apart.

I’ll try to give myself permission to feel the pride, the grief, the gratitude, the ache; because being human means we can hold complexity. We can celebrate and mourn. We can lift our heads high, even while our hearts feel heavy.

To Those Who Serve—and Those Who Stand Beside Them

Thank you.

To the servicemen and women who do a thankless, gritty, dangerous job— thank you.

To the families who carry the unseen weight— I see you.

To the men and women who have lost their lives, and their surviving families— God bless you.

I’m proud to be an American.

I carry that pride with reverence, knowing it’s stitched together by the sacrifice of millions.

This Independence Day, I honor that complexity. I honor the cost. I honor every military family doing the hard, invisible work of freedom.

God bless you, and God bless the USA.

“And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA”