Independence Day 2015 in Northern Michigan

Red, white, and blue

Benjamin Busch, a Michigan author who visited Northport in 2012 with the release of his memoir, Dust to Dust, has written some thoughts on Independence Day that I want to share with you. Follow this link to read his essay from which I excerpt the sentence below.

The strength of the wolf is the pack, one nation, and the strength of the pack is the wolf, one vote. 

Leelanau County's own Kathleen Stocking, as most of you know, also thinks deeply on important matters. Follow this link to read Kathleen's essay on what it means to her to be an American. Here is one of the points she makes there:

People talk about the horrifying poverty in third world countries, but it’s not the poverty that’s scary, it’s the lack of easy talking and thinking. 

So many brilliant and articulate people have shared their thoughts and feelings on freedom that I find I have nothing of my own to add, so I will close with these words from "America the Beautiful."

America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! 

Wishing you all a happy, grateful, beautiful, and safe Independence Day from Northport, Michigan!