Happy birthday, America!

Thursday is Independence Day, and besides the opportunity to celebrate with a hometown event at Fountain Park, Americans across the country will be marking the occasion in many ways.

At minimum, everyone should take at least a few moments to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy in this community, state and nation. No government is perfect, of course, since all governments are run by people, but we in the United States enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to a degree never achieved in the relatively brief history of modern humanity. Our country’s forefathers took many risks several hundred years ago, and many of our modern-day veterans paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending and protecting those freedoms.

So, amid the pool parties, camping trips, other celebrations and Fourth at the Fountain activities, don’t forget the foundation behind this holiday – our freedoms and our independence from tyranny, abuses and misrepresentation. Instead, as we look around this globe today and what other countries are struggling with, we should be even more grateful we can celebrate Independence Day.

And don’t forget to be safe out there. We don’t need any wildfires sparked by illegal fireworks or other careless acts.

Speaking of celebrations, we at The Times marked an anniversary last week – our 39th year of operation as an independent weekly newspaper. Freedom of the press is one of those liberties we can also celebrate on Independence Day, and we’re thankful we have been able to deliver the local news to you all these decades. We look forward to many more years of service and are proud we can be a part of this community and a part of bringing the community to you, our readers. It’s just one way we are “creating community” in Fountain Hills.