CELEBRATING AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY AT THE COURIER JOURNAL

Turtle Knoll on July 4 - Lake Hildegard in Blooming Grove, New York

Turtle Knoll seems to say it all on this 2025 Independence Day - Patriotism, joy, thriving wildlife, clean rushing water ... just about all of the things we need in middle America to be safe, free and healthy.

Sometime during the day, I encourage people to look up a few stories about America's history. It gives a boost to the best feelings of national pride, and helps highlight the freedoms and inspiring accomplishments that make us the innovative, peaceloving and futuristic thinking country that we are so proud of. Learning helps fortify our liberties. I just read an inspiring story about the team of engineers who (against all odds) sent a little helicopter to Mars, and the adventures they had Earthbound, but digitally on the red planet with the little instrument called "Ingenuity", that they nicknamed "Ginny" as she explored the unknown, had 2 nearly catastrophic crashes, sent an amazing cache of information back to the engineers, and jumped into the future.

Be safe, have fun, remember how lucky we are to live here.

Edie Johnson

Executive Editor

Orange County Courier Journal