Happy Independence Day!

On the anniversary of the birth of our country, I wanted to take this moment to first thank all the men and women who proudly serve our country in the armed services. I also think it’s important to acknowledge Americans who have found other ways to serve our country – the Teach for America and AmeriCorps volunteers who work in America’s most desperate pockets to help create a more just and equitable society, the volunteers from community, religious, and non-profit organizations who selflessly devote time and money in their local communities, and the volunteers in the Peace Corps and NGOs who generate goodwill the world over while presenting America’s best face to allies and adversaries alike.

Forty-three years ago, my wife Patti and I heeded President John F. Kennedy’s call, left Berkeley, and embarked on a journey that would shape our outlook for the rest of our lives. We joined the Peace Corps and spent two years working on the eradication of small pox in rural southwest Ethiopia. We witnessed unimaginable suffering on an almost daily basis, but we understood that the work we were doing was not just vital to good people desperately in need of help but also served to demonstrate to the world abroad the goodness of America.

More over the flip…

Today I attended parades in Fairfield and Concord and will soon be in Antioch and Livermore. These are joyous events that bring us together in celebration of the blessings of our country. Around the world, people remain awash in disease, famine, widespread poverty, and senseless oppression, I’ve seen it firsthand, but there remains hard work to be done here at home. Almost 60 million Americans are uninsured; we have not done enough to reduce the harmful effects of climate change or to promote fair trade policies; and at dark points in our past, we have strayed from the values that unite us as Americans. But there is nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with America, and we should be proud to be the leaders of the free world.

Today, as you join friends and family in celebration of America’s birthday, please take a moment to reflect on the blessings bestowed to us all. If you are not yet active in your local communities, get involved. And of course, I always recommend the Peace Corps to anyone interested in giving back. I recently read that under President Obama, interest in the Peace Corps has spiked. This dedication from young Americans gives me hope that our better days are yet to come. When you see the smiling faces of people whose lives are improved by your service, believe me, you will truly understand what it means to be free.

John Garamendi is the Lieutenant Governor of California, a University of California regent, a California State University trustee, and the founder of the Clean Seas Coalition. He was previously California’s first State Insurance Commissioner, Deputy Interior Secretary under President Bill Clinton, and a state legislator. For more information, please visit http://www.garamendi.org or follow him on Facebook and Twitter. He is a candidate for California’s 10th Congressional District.