Dear Neighbors:

I am writing to wish all the residents of our Village a happy Independence Day.  This July 4th is unlike any that we’ve observed in living memory–nevertheless, we have much to be grateful for, much to celebrate and much to fight for.

 

We should draw inspiration from our country’s triumph over the British Empire led by the tyrannical King George III and the perseverance of the American experiment in self-government.

 

The preservation of democracy was the result of tremendous sacrifice.

 

As always, we should remember our veterans and those on the frontlines today.  Our freedoms depend on the men and women in uniform who look out for us every day.

 

We should also remember that we owe many of our freedoms to those that engaged in heroic unarmed struggle at home in the Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage and other freedom movements.  This includes historical figures with local connections such as Doris Stevens, who was jailed for her protests for womens’ suffrage.

 

That rich tradition of protest and debate is still alive and well in the United States and the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.

 

 As we celebrate a socially distanced Independence Day, let’s reflect on how we can fulfill and build on the bold claim of our Declaration of Independence:

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

Sincerely,

 

Brain Pugh, Mayor