Happy Fourth of July from the Bureau of Reclamation!
Here at the Bureau, we are reclaiming Independence Day from those who would turn this national day of unity into feast of divisiveness. We know that love of country can and must takes many different forms and that no one party can claim a monopoly.
We are reclaiming the symbols of America's heritage. The flag. The Statue of Liberty. We know that these images once stood as beacons of hope for the poor and displaced people everywhere and that they inspired a vision of freedom and individual rights that captured the imaginations of the entire world.
We are reclaiming American enterprise and opportunity. The America of our fathers and mothers and their fathers and mothers was a land that was open to new ideas. America was a land that used creativity, determination, science and technology to solve the problems that we faced.
We are reclaiming values and virtues. We work to instill in our children the attributes that make them good people and good citizens: integrity, honesty, generosity, compassion, determination, self-awareness, to name just a few. We know that these are the values of our country and our society, and that they do not belong to any particular church or religious group.
We are reclaiming America's valor. From the soldiers who fought for the American idea, to the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, we honor those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the needs of this Country. We honor our ancestors and our fathers and mothers and brothers who gave their lives defending America. We understand that we hold the lives and hearts of America's soldiers in sacred trust, and that it is up to us to do all that we can to ensure that their lives and honor are not wasted in the vainglorious misadventures of short-sighted leaders. We understand that it is up to us to ensure the America our soldiers died for remains the beacon of liberty and hope and freedom that lives in our hearts and memories.
What would you like to reclaim?