4th of July Letter to the Editor

In the past I have written letters to the editor of the local paper, The Idaho Press-Tribune. This week I wrote one on what patriotism means to me, similar to the blog post from July 02, 2008. Today it was in the paper. It was the only letter from a regular person and the rest of the opinion page were quotes from past Presidents of the United States, so I felt I was in good company. Here are the links.
Chris' Letter to the editor.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! (Happy Birthday Uncle Randy!) Today is the day we celebrate our country's independence. From Wikipedia

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Go out today and enjoy the freedoms that we all share. Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy the hot summer.

Patriotism...

I love The United States of America. I am a US citizen, I was born here and I will probably die here. I am an Eagle Scout and I was a Cub Scout before that. I go to church most Sundays and I pray daily. I am an American. The feelings of true patriotism that I feel have nothing to do with political parties or which candidate I am inclined to like this week. True Patriotism comes from a sense of obligation to the preservation of values that this Nation was founded on. These are not values that are either Republican or Democrat they are American. These are the values that brought immigrants from Europe in the nineteenth century through today to seek a better life for them and their families. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are things that we all desire. They are values that Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers knew that all people should enjoy. Not just those who agree with the majority politically. "No party or political philosophy has a monopoly on patriotism" -Source

I love America because you can be in the minority or in the majority and you still have a voice. No one silences you when you disagree with the elected government. If you don't like something you can effect change in your community, state and nation through the electoral process.

As we celebrate Independence day and think of those who have gone before and the challenges they faced to provide for us what we have let us remember that we are ALL part of the great experiment called The United States of America. How things are now is not how they will be in fifty years and things today are not as they were fifty years ago. Ours is a living, breathing, growing democracy; who learns at every opportunity how to better meet the needs of all our desires for freedom.

Susie Martineau 1984-2008

PRICE - Susie Martineau, age 23, our loving daughter, sister and friend, formerly of Price, passed away June 29, 2008 in Ogden.

She was born Dec. 9, 1984 in Miles City, Mont., the youngest of six children born to Stanley Dean and Vicky Crummett Martineau. Susie grew up in Grand Junction, Colo., and later moved to Price, where she graduated from Carbon High School in 2003. She played several different instruments in the high school band and also enjoyed playing the piano.

Following high school, she attended CEU, receiving an associate of arts degree.

She was attending Utah State University at the time of her passing.

She loved reading, animals (especially cats) and spending time with her friends and family.

She was a member of the LDS Church, where she received the YW In Excellence Medallion.

She will always be remembered as a loving and giving person.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her parents; her five siblings, Stanley James (Dresden) Martineau of Roy; Karl Theodore (Kristin) Martineau of Provo; Tamra (Ryan) Wilson of Huntington; Dean Crummett Martineau of Bozeman, Mont.; and Holly Ann (Eric) Tucker of Price; and nine nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be July 3, at 1 p.m. at the Elmo LDS Chapel, 170 East Main. Viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Elmo City Cemetery. Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary.

Source- http://www.sunad.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=13464

Susie was my cousin. She and her mom (my aunt Vicki) came to visit our family shortly after my mom passed away. It was a fun dinner, we actually had Mexican and ordered take out rice for the occasion. That night I remember that it was the first time that I noticed how much Vicki looked like my mom. My brother Clark was close with Susie as they were close in age. While growing up he was able to spend a couple weeks each summer in Utah visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins. Susie had a great spirit about her and she will be missed.

It is the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and that a loving Heavenly Father has prepared a way that we can be together eternally. Right now there is a loving reunion in the hereafter with Susie, her Grandma Crummett, Aunt Lynn, Cousin Catherine and countless other friends and relatives awaiting her arrival. Our prayers are with Stan and Vicki, Stan, Dean, Karl, and Holly at this time.
The Petersons Love you.