John, it's been a long and difficult past year – but our nation has pulled through together, and I'm so proud to celebrate our resilience this Independence Day. 

There are brighter times ahead for the Land of Enchantment: Over 60% of New Mexicans are now vaccinated for COVID-19, which means we're successfully saving lives from the virus. With New Mexico now at such a high vaccination rate, I was proud to reopen our state on July 1 entirely and begin our return to normalcy.

The truth is, it's not just the vaccines that have saved lives in New Mexico. People like you have been sacrificing so much – social distancing, missing milestones and isolating from friends and family – to stop the spread of the virus and protect our communities. It's because of your hard work that we were able to reopen safely before this holiday weekend.

Together, we're turning the corner on this pandemic. This weekend, vaccinated New Mexicans will be able to safely hug their loved ones, gather for family barbecues and celebrate our country. 

After persevering through such a difficult time, I hope you find a moment of joy and celebration this weekend.

Michelle Lujan Grisham