Weekly Column: Protecting freedom and opportunity

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the United States of America was established. Last week, families across the country celebrated this momentous anniversary with firework displays, parades, and barbeques. Many of us prayed for the men and women who sacrifice their lives to protect our independence and make our country stronger, but few reflected on the real reason we observe our country’s most patriotic holiday.

The original British colonists came to the colonies seeking freedom and opportunity. They saw what would become the United States of America as a land wh...