Dear John,

The Fourth of July has always been among my favorite days of the year. It is a day decorated with red, white, and blue, and marked by sparklers, sprinklers, barbecues, parades, and fireworks. 

But this year, the trappings of the holiday and the way we celebrate must change because of the pandemic. We won’t have crowded parade streets or blankets laid out across fields to watch fireworks, but we have every reason to celebrate the American spirit of independence.

As marches and rallies continue in the streets of our nation, and advocates and citizens unite in calling for progress and an ever-better, ever-more just America, it is clear that the ideals upon which our independence was founded and the promise of our country remain strong.

I wish you all a safe and healthy holiday, and may we all work to ensure that our great country is ever healthier, stronger, and more just with each successive Independence Day.