1. My mother’s family came here from Ireland, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Her father came from Quebec, and spoke only French. My father’s family came from Norway. So many Norwegians on the ship had such long names, that my ancestors were told to change their name. What had been Christiansen became Berg. My parents lived through the Great Depression, a very difficult time for both families. Their parents lost jobs, walked miles every day looking for work – often in shoes stuffed with cardboard. Immigrants who didn’t speak the language fluently, like my grandparents, had the most difficulty. But, they survived. My father and all my uncles fought in World War 11. They, along with their wives were members of “The Greatest Generation.” They survived hardship without hand-outs, welfare, social security, job loss, the war, loss of family members, and yet, Americans were united. Patriotism was displayed in every household, school, government building, cemetery, and store. Regardless of nationality, Americans were one people.
   I grew up, one of seven children, knowing we weren’t rich, but we had what we needed. We were taught to respect our elders, be polite, kind, patient, work hard and do a job properly or we would be doing it over again. Nothing was ever handed to us, not even a weekly allowance. If we needed something, we had to do chores to earn the money to buy it. My father made sure we were ready for church every Sunday, and that we behaved during service.
   But we were taught that if we worked hard enough, and treated all people respectfully, we could do and be anything we wanted to be. None of my family are presidents of companies, none are rich, but we all have what we need. We all worked hard to get what we do have. We are proud Americans, who have different political views, live in different parts of the country, attend different churches – or no church, for some. But we are free to live as we like. We are safe, protected by dedicated service people, police and firefighters who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. We have homes, jobs, spouses, clothes,
   enough food to eat and cars to drive. We have clean drinking water and enough medical facilities to take care of us, if we get sick. We don’t have to wait months or years to receive treatment, like some do in other countries. We live in a beautiful country, full of kind people. There is so much to be thankful for.

2. Until you have lived in another country, you may have no idea of what it is about America that you love, because we take much of her bounty for granted. For me, having lived in Turkey and South Africa, visited Greece, Germany, Mexico, and Sweden, America embodies the best of this world. Most of her people are warm and helpful. Her countryside is beyond glorious, and you can go almost anywhere across this fantastic country to enjoy it. The freedoms she offers are beyond compare. And what about your right to speak freely of your beliefs? What about the freedom to live basically wherever you want to in this great country? How about the right to vote your representatives in or out of office? America is built on the rights of her people. Just think of the produce we think nothing of running out to the local grocery to buy, for instance. It is shipped in from all over the world. You can get fresh fruits and veggies almost year round, no matter what you fancy. In most parts of the world, that is not the case. You get what is currently being harvested or you buy canned or frozen, and sometimes not that much.

3. What I like about living in America is the goodness of people. I know we have our problems, our own people who hate, etc., but underneath it all is goodness. There are enough good people in America who will stand up and fight for a better future for all.

4. What makes me proud of our country is the freedom that we have. The freedom to worship God and freedom on so many other levels. I’m thankful to God first of all and then to the many people, past and present who have served and even given their lives to preserve our freedom. I wouldn’t want to live in any other country!

5. Hi Lyn,

   I value the freedoms we have! I appreciate everyone that has contributed to allowing us to be a nation with so much freedom!

6. It’s so easy to take the freedoms we have in our country for granted, but it strikes home when you read about oppression and even executions in other countries due to beliefs.

7. Life is a lot sweeter because I know that we are a free nation. Freedom of speech and actions. I love that I can worship anywhere and anytime that I like. I really appreciate the men and women who fight for our nation. I have numerous men in my own family tree who fought for us. I proudly fly our flag daily. We have passed this on to our children who do the same as adults now also. When our son was 14 starting in Boy Scouts, he and my husband started civil war reenacting. And our son like to talk to people about the civil war and why it was important back then and now. He is now 34 and still reenacts the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, World War 1 and World War 2. He and his wife love to teach others about these different wars and how and why they impacted us then and why we should learn from that period.

8. It is such a hard question to answer. These days, where it seems that our leaders can’t agree on anything, including weather (or so it seems), I get very discouraged. Looking back on the founding fathers, I wonder if we have fulfilled the potential they designed for us. No one should go hungry, be homeless, or be afraid to speak one’s convictions. However, I do believe in America and the hope for a better tomorrow for all people. May we the people work for a better America for those who come after us.

9. There are many things I value about America.We have wonderful freedom and a beautiful country.

10. I love my country! I love the freedom here. I know we are not perfect and it’s been rough in the USA for the last few years but I still wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in this world. Now I would like to visit other countries but I would always want to come home.

11. We live in an amazing country and I’m glad to be a part of it. When traveling our interstate highways, I think of all the pioneers who traveled west in covered wagons and am amazed that so many actually made it across this vast country. I’m sure the first wide river I came to would have been where I settled! I loved our trip to Mount Rushmore the most of all.

12. The many blessings and freedoms that we have just by being American.

13. I value the freedom of religion & hope we are able to believe the truths our country was founded upon. I’m amazed the Constitution & Bill of Rights are still pertinent in this day & tumultuous times. Pray for our country every day & for our leaders to be conservative in their snap judgments. God bless America, my home sweet home.

14. I’m Proud to Be An American because I support our troops and I’m grateful for their sacrifice for our freedom.

15. What I most value about our country is the freedoms protected by our military. Without those who serve, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms that we do. I really appreciate that our country allows the opportunity for people to try to better themselves.

16. I was an East German refugee child when I came to America. Although most of what I know I was told by my parents. We were super excited to see the Statue of Liberty as we approached the shoreline in our ship. It represented the freedoms my family had not had but not hoped to be able to enjoy and cherish. Having lived many years here now, I am still proud to be an American and all it stands for!

17. At this moment in time… I would say my freedom to voice my opinions openly… one of my greatest fears is the spread of “Politically Incorrect” which sometimes makes me feel unsafe to voice a thought that does not agree with the person next to me. Just why should their thought/opinion have more value/be more correct than mine or anyone else’s?

18. FREEDOM…treasure the fact can go anywhere, anytime, and be me doing it. Bah on countries that stand on top of their women, and keep them in dark….freedom is it!!!!

19. I treasure our freedoms: speech, religion,and the press. Even though we don’t always appreciate the variety of opinions in our country, I treasure that we can express them. I also like that we are a melting pot from all over the world.

20. I appreciate our freedoms, too.
    All of those outlined in the 1st Amendment. I can worship the god of my choosing, in the way I chose to believe He desires. So long as I’m not inciting violence or panic, I can say what I want without fear of being arrested or disappearing.

    Of course, that means that those that don’t believe as I do can say and do things I may not agree with. But that’s part of the price of living with that freedom.

21. I love the freedoms we have, one of which is being able to travel all over the country to see the beauty God had given us to enjoy. May we never take it for granted.

22. I value our freedoms. It seems like a simple answer but it is not. We should never take this for granted. Thank you Lyn.

23. I value our freedom and all who have served our country for that freedom. From the colonists to the picketing women.
    Patty

24. I treasure our freedom and our rights. I go to the church of my choice each Sunday and I can share the gospel without fear. I feel safe as much as possible within our borders and do not wish to go outside of them. We have a beautiful country that I still have places to explore. I get tears every time I hear our national anthem and pray for those who serve us both in the military and police, and firemen. I’m thankful God allowed me to be born an American.

25. I am proud of the diversity in people and opportunities in America (USA). America actually includes the whole continent, north and south. I have traveled extensively and always enjoy a place where their is warm hospitality, without discrimination as to race or religion. Embrace the differences.
    (Currently reading Lyn’s trilogy, the second book is Journey to Respect, taking place in the early 1800’s in New Orleans)

26. The thing I like most about being an American, is our freedoms. Freedom to speak what is on our minds. Freedom to serve the God of our choice, even if he isn’t the one true God, the Father of Jesus. Freedom to live where we want to, to own guns to protect ourselves, to be educated. To wake up in the morning without fear from our government, or our police, if we’ve done no crime. Freedom to live and do as we please, so long as we harm no one else.

27. I love America because of our freedoms.

28. Arriving in 1955 during the Cold War as German American immigrant, I value the opportunities and freedom that America offered my family. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college and was blessed to be a teacher for 35 years. I have had the opportunity to travel coast to coast – 30 states in all. America the beautiful – mountains, deserts, lakes, plains, small towns and great cities. Diversity in topography, culture, cuisine, and more. My German cousins were not so fortunate – growing up behind the Berlin wall. Had twenty one year old Great Uncle Otto not venture to America in 1914 to escape the Russian draft, my family’s story would be different. A special thanks to those who braved the voyage before me. Happy Independence Day!

29. I value the beautiful country we live in and the choices we have along with the freedom fought for by so many young men and women. Many lost their lives, many never returned to our soil. I hold them in the highest regard. They did and still do, deserve our utmost respect.

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