Independence Day
Effective Date: Wednesday, July 4th, 2012
WHEREAS, each year Americans remember and rightly commemorate the birth of this great nation, the United States of America, a nation conceived in liberty and birthed from the consent of the people rather than by a monarchical dynasty or tyrannical ruler; and
WHEREAS, this nation’s first principles include an acknowledgment that every human being possesses certain unalienable, unalterable rights given by our Creator, including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”; and
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence galvanized our nation and gave America’s collective expression to these principles and the cause of freedom in its “first founding moment” on July 4, 1776; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution fulfilled the promise of the Declaration of Independence by ordering a government around the consent of the governed, with guarantees of freedom and responsibilities for all during our nation’s “second founding moment” in 1787-1788; and
WHEREAS, America’s birthright of freedom has endured only through tremendous sacrifice; we are forever indebted to the many American servicemen and women who have served and serve on active duty, as members of the National Guard, and with our reserve military forces, and especially to those who gave their lives in defense of all we hold dear; and
WHEREAS, Alaska’s people, diverse in cultures and viewpoints, have a distinct role to play in this nation, represented by the 49th star on the American flag; and
WHEREAS, Alaskans, individually and together, are guaranteed these first principles of life, liberty, and conscience;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sean Parnell, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim July 4, 2012 as:
Independence Day
in Alaska, and encourage Alaskans to honor the contributions of our nation’s founders and our military members, past and present; to reflect on these “founding moments” and the cost of freedom since; and to renew our pledge to uphold principles of life, liberty, and conscience, for this generation and all to come.
Dated: July 2, 2012
