When I was young my grandfather would tell me stories about his growing up in Italy.
He told me about his farm, his family and about his coming to America in the early 1900's.
Listening to these stories over and over again gave me an appreciation not only for my grandfather's courage to leave his homeland but it also gave me a sense of pride being a first generation American born citizen.
I love my country and here are 5 reasons why I do.
Freedom is on the top of my list.
Freedom of speech, freedom to worship or not worship, freedom to pursue one's own happiness to live life on our own terms.
Having these freedoms can be difficult at times.
It takes work and discipline to maintain our freedoms especially when there are people here and around the world who would like to take those freedoms from us.
America the Beautiful, no other song rings so true than this song.
America with its diverse landscape; the hills, the valleys, from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean this land has something for everyone.
From the Rockie Mountains in Colorado to the Sonoron Desert in Arizona or Sun Valley in Idaho, from east to west there are areas so different yet pristine like no other place on earth.
This vast country of ours has 388 National Parks.
Each and every American has the right to vote.
It's more than a privilege, it is our civic duty to vote for those we feel exemplify and stand steadfast to the basic foundations that were established at the birth of this nation.
It's our laws and constitution that gives us the rights that we enjoy and live by.
I love America for the opportunities every one of us has at our fingertips.
The right to an education and the opportunity to expand our lives as we see fit.
To work or not to work, to achieve or not to achieve, it's our freedom of choice and free will that we are self determined.
Most of all I love the American people.
I love the diverse cultures, the ethnic backgrounds of people from all over the world who came here to America and still come to work and live here.
I love those people who are part of the American dream and make this country great.
God bless them all and God bless America.
Celebrate this great country with all it has to offer.