HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin descends the steps of the lunar module.

Extra: Buzz Aldrin with American flag on the moon.

Both photographs by Commander Neil Armstrong of Apollo 11 (not under copyright), July 20, 1969, in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.


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What an incredible scientific and technological accomplishment! 
What a thrill it was to watch these scenes unfold on tiny flickering black-and-white tv screens, live from the moon.
What acts of individual courage and ingenious human cooperation.
How we rejoiced to see the returning spaceship splash down, to see the astronauts safely emerge.
How filled with hope we were for a bright future for America and the world.
How conscious we were of the fragility and magnificence of our blue planet.

The tears that form as I write these words echo the tears I shed as a young woman, my heart touched by these amazing accomplishments.

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Make America great again!

Happy Independence Day to all who have benefited from America's greatness, to all who have come here in search of a better, safer life, and to all whose countries sought to imitate our Constitution and our rule of law.

Fellow Americans, make sure you're registered to vote!
Make sure to vote in November so we can begin to restore what has been destroyed.
Only then can we make America great again: 
symbol of freedom and beacon of truth and generosity. 

God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
through the night with the light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies
to the ocean white with foam,
God bless America, my home sweet home. (2x)


(written by Irving Berlin, a Russian Jewish immigrant)