Celebrating July 4^th has had many meanings in the different years of my life. When I was a boy, I lived by the bay and that meant swimming, fishing, motorboat races and great family dinners.

Over the years, I began to appreciate the historical significance of this great celebration. My mother was an immigrant from Sicily and her love and respect for this country became part of my upbringing. America was almost as important as her Catholic faith.

It wasn’t just a blind allegiance to the concept of our country; it was being a contributing member of this experiment. Her politics were conservative, and she worked for the election of several Republican judges in New York City.

Politics in our house was sometimes part of the discussion. Harry Truman was president after FDR’s death and sometimes, she was critical of him. On the other hand, she and my dad would speak respectfully about the president.Am I speaking romantically of the era in our history? I’m not sure, but I believe it to be true. My wish for all of us on this great holiday is that we retain the civility that I believe existed. I wish us all a great celebration that President Lincoln describes in his closing remarks of the Gettysburg address, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

— Ernie Fazio