Happy 250th America!
Happy 250th America
July 4, 2026 | Leander, Texas | 5:45 P.M.
Dear Leah, Jack & Adam,
It is purely coincidental that formerdishwasher.com is being launched on our Nation’s 250th birthday—completely unplanned, yet entirely fitting. Launching a site whose entire premise is the continuation of carrying something forward for the next generation, on the 250th anniversary of the greatest act of continuation in American history, is a gift I did not foresee.
The founders were flawed men who did something extraordinary anyway. They were deeply imperfect men who somehow produced something that has outlasted every empire of their era. It is proof that imperfect people can still do things that matter and last.
They didn’t sign the Declaration knowing it would work; they signed it knowing it might get them killed. That’s not courage in hindsight—that’s courage in the dark. And what they built has now lasted 250 years.
In many ways, this blog exists because of that freedom. The men and women who came before us created a country where an ordinary person—a former dishwasher, a grandfather, someone with no special title or pedigree—can sit down at a keyboard and share his thoughts with the world. That’s extraordinary when you stop and think about it. America gave a former dishwasher the opportunity to build a life, raise a family, learn, fail, start over, and still have a voice worth sharing. I never take that for granted… nor should you.
The founders faced resistance that was enormous—uncertainty, danger, fear, and the possibility of failure. Yet they acted anyway. Almost everything worthwhile in life requires that same courage. We may not be asked to sign a declaration of independence, but we are all called upon to declare our independence from fear, complacency, and the voices that tell us we cannot do something meaningful.
Remember, freedom in never free. It was purchased by sacrifice—first by the founders and then by generations of Americans who served and sacrificed.
Independence is more than a national idea; it is also personal. The ability to think for yourself, choose your own path, speak your mind, and pursue your dreams is a tremendous gift.
Rights and responsibilities travel together. True freedom requires character, gratitude, and active participation. Most people throughout history have not enjoyed the liberties we often take for granted.
The greatest way to honor the past is to build the future. We honor those who came before us by using our freedom wisely and leaving things better for those who come after us.
Leah, Jack & Adam – neither you nor I earned the freedoms we enjoy today. They were gifts from people you will never meet in this life. Receive them with gratitude. Protect them with courage. Use them with wisdom. And never forget that ordinary people, acting with conviction, can change the course of their family, their community, and even their country.
Two hundred and fifty years ago today, a group of imperfect men did something extraordinary. They had everything to lose, but they did it anyway. That’s the part I want you to remember.
And if a former dishwasher can leave behind a few thoughts for his grandchildren because he was fortunate enough to live in this country, then I would say America has kept another one of her promises.
Today… and every day… is a good day to be an American!