When I was a junior in high school, I took classes at Minnesota State University in the afternoons. Somehow, I managed to get into a coveted public speaking class that was full of upperclassmen. The final was a long-format informative speech about something that was important to you in your life, a nd your classmates would critique your presentation. Many of the students shared tips on how to navigate the college scene in Minnesota in the mid-’90s. I talked about patriotism. I became choked up and fought to hold back tears as I spoke about the immense sacrifices of the Founding Fathers. The feedback from the class was predominantly positive, but there were a handful of comment cards stating that I needed to learn to control my emotions. Fair enough, but my thought was, how could their stories of surrendering everything except their sacred honor not move you? By signing the Declaration of Independence, the 56 delegates committed high treason against the British Crown, knowingly risking their lives and the safety of their families. Many of the signers had their homes looted, occupied, damaged or burned. Five were captured during the war and endured imprisonment, and many were completely ruined financially, dying in poverty after funding the Revolution. Their personal sacrifices were devastatingly specific. Francis Lewis’s Queens estate was destroyed, and his wife, Elizabeth, was imprisoned by the British under harsh conditions, never recovering her health. In New Jersey, John Hart was driven from his dying wife’s bedside into the mountains while his 13 children fled into hiding. John Witherspoon paid the ultimate price when his eldest son was killed at the Battle of Germantown. We stand on the shoulders of giants who gave their all for what the promise of America could be, one they would never fully experience but could see with stunning clarity of purpose in the way they lived their lives. That privilege is a call for us to join together, put aside political differences, and recognize that we are more alike than different. We want our families to be safe. We want to worship according to our conscience. We want to enjoy the freedom of expression. We want to pursue good. Freedom and unity are the legacy we owe those who come after us. When I think about the sacrifices that made our lives possible today, I’m reminded of how extraordinary our own circumstances really are. Out of curiosity, I asked Google to estimate the odds. It estimated that roughly 117 billion people have lived throughout human history, while only about 43,000 people call Summit County home today. By that simple comparison, the chance of us being here, in this place and at this moment, is roughly 1 in 2.7 billion. That realization is almost incomprehensible to me. So this Fourth of July, during our nation’s 250th celebration, give a moment of silence during the day and think of those who sacrificed so you could be right here, right now, in this moment. Then give thanks that you have the opportunity to carry that legacy forward. I’ll be offering a prayer, thanking God for those who came before me and committing to never forget the responsibility I have to those coming behind me. May God continue to watch over and bless the United States of America. Suni Woolstenhulme Oakley, candidate for Summit County clerk The post Shoulders of giants appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less