Happy Independence Day everyone! Hopefully everyone was able to get out today and enjoy some quality time with family and friends. Today is a day to sit back and reflect on how great this nation of ours truly is. Today is a day to be thankful. Thankful for what we have as a nation. Thankful that a group of people came together, regardless of their differences, and made this thing we all America.
The United States of America and all that it stands for is something I am proud to be a part of. Part of that legacy that we have in this nation is our public lands. We are so fortunate in this wonderful nation to have the ability to get outside and make memories that will last a lifetime. Each and everyone one of us is a public land owner. You pay taxes, you own are a part owner in these lands. This holiday weekend my wife and I intend to use our hard-earned lands.
I just spent the last month on the road for work. The Marine Corps has had me busy this year. Eight weeks home. That’s how many weeks I’ve been home since Christmas. It takes a toll on you and your family. I am lucky to have the family I have and they are so supportive. I am truly blessed. It worked out perfect that I was coming off this current trip for work the day before a long weekend for the 4thof July. My wife secured a nice cabin in the Chattahoochee National Forest of North Georgia surrounded by public lands.
Waking up this morning to a beautiful sunrise and the peaceful sounds of nature was just what I needed. I don’t think I knew how much I needed this until this morning. For the first time in over a month I was able to fully relax and turn off all the outside junk that pollutes my life all too often. Taking time for myself and us to sit and just be. Be part of it. Our cabin is about an hour drive from Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. I spent much of my youth on the Appalachian Trail hiking just about all of the parts that cross through Maryland and Pennsylvania. So being able to come here and hike up to the top of Springer Mountain to see this remarkable landmark was something special for me.
Today wasn’t about how much hiking we could do. It was about getting outside and enjoying nature and each other. We did two short hikes today totaling about four and a half miles. Nothing crazy but with each step I could feel myself letting go. All the stress and frustrations being shed off behind me. Memories of all the trips my friends and I took on the Appalachian Trail all those miles to the north flooding in. My wife taking her first steps on this historic trail. A trail that has been the source of the same happiness for countless others for 85 years now. You could see it in all the other people we met today on the trail. Dozens of families out celebrating this important holiday by getting out and taking a hike in the woods.
None of this would be possible if it weren’t for our public lands. I keep bring it up and it’s for good reason. Without it I wouldn’t have the memories I have on the Appalachian Trail or any of the other areas I have enjoyed. Generations of families have enjoyed these same wonders thanks to the work of so many people. On top of that we must be thankful for the efforts of the thousands of volunteers that maintain the Appalachian Trail. If it wasn’t for organizations like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, we wouldn’t have this treasure.
Again, I hope you have enjoyed your 4thof July. I know I did! Lots of memories made. Make sure that you take time to give thanks for all we have in this amazing nation. Be thankful for who you are and what you have. Get outside and enjoy nature. Enjoy our public lands. Enjoy the wonderment of our planet.
God Bless the United States of America!
