The crowds were immense. Everywhere I looked I could see people in lawn chairs, smiling small children running around with glow necklaces shining our Nation’s colors of red, white and blue.

There were families of every race and creed. There were people of different beliefs, educational backgrounds, religions, and even political philosophies standing side by side.

The show was spectacular! Thirty minutes of heart stopping pyrotechnics that lit up the West-Texas night sky to celebrate the birth of our nation had excited and enthused the people.

And then, it happened. The best moment of all. The show ended in a finale, and for just a moment you could have heard a pin drop. Silence engulfed the crowd of hundreds around the park and coliseum for a rare second and the atmosphere was electrified!

I could feel the energy in the air, it was breathtaking.

And then, like a tidal wave breaking on the shore, the crowd erupted in cheers, applause and even some honking automobile horns. It brings me to chills remembering it as I write you.

THIS, IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
IT’S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

In that electrified moment, there it was.
Our community stood together,
AS ONE.

Regardless of race, religion or education, we stood together.

We joined with our neighbors to celebrate America!

In an era that is so fraught with division, where it is more accepted to be against your neighbor than to stand with them, where social media has created a “loud megaphone” for those who enjoy complaining and causing strife, and where political divisions have all but crippled our nation’s ability to move forward in progress…

For a moment…
WE ALL STOOD TOGETHER.

It was breathtaking.