Happy Independence Day!
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
There is something special about the Fourth of July in Northern Minnesota.
Maybe it's the small-town parades where everyone seems to know everyone. Maybe it's seeing American flags lining Main Street, hearing kids laugh as they chase candy, or gathering with family and friends after a long day in the sun. Maybe it's simply slowing down long enough to appreciate the people and places we love.
Fosston Independence Day Celebration
The City of Fosston got a jump-start on the rest of us. On Thursday, they had their annual parade with over a mile of participants—driving, walking, and lining the streets to pick up the sweet treats being sent their way.
At dusk they had a fireworks display that seemed to go on forever—with the classic finale at the end. We watched the display from the Veterans’ Memorial Garden which totally intensified the patriotic feel!
Special thanks to Mayor James Offerdahl who served up steaks off the grill between the parade and the fireworks display, making sure we didn’t run out of gas by the end of the night!
Reflecting on 250 Years of the USA
The Fourth of July isn't just another date on the calendar. It’s a day set aside to stop and appreciate our freedom from the tyrannical rule of Great Britain. It's a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured through the courage, sacrifice, and determination of generations who came before us. Those freedoms are not abstract ideas. They allow us to worship freely, speak our minds, raise our families according to our values, and build lives in communities we are proud to call home.
I think that's why Independence Day resonates so deeply in Greater Minnesota.
Out here, we still value faith, family, hard work, and looking out for our neighbors. We understand that freedom comes with responsibility. We know that strong communities don't happen by accident. They are built by people who care enough to show up, lend a hand, and invest in something bigger than themselves.
As we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary, I hope you'll take time to enjoy the simple things that make this holiday special. Spend time with your family. Attend the local parade. Fly the flag. Thank a veteran. Watch the fireworks. Take a moment to appreciate how fortunate we are to live in this country and in this incredible part of Minnesota. And ask yourself what you can do to defend and restore our liberty today so that we can hand off this great country to the next generation in better shape than we found it.
From my family to yours, I wish you a safe, happy, and blessed Fourth of July.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
— Steve Gander