Happy Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July weekend. This of course looks much different than most past Independence Days. We are still in the middle of a pandemic, and there is no Riverfest, no fireworks, no parades. Health experts warn this Fourth of July could be a tipping point in the virus, if people behave the same way they did on past holidays. We’re being told we shouldn’t gather with friends and pass the potato salad. In fact, they are recommending that we stay home. It may be a smaller celebration this year, but we can still take time to celebrate our nation’s independence. Spend time with your immediate family. We can still grill those hamburgers and hot dogs. But if we have a few friends over, they recommend not passing the condiments, but rather provide individual packets of ketchup and mustard. Yes, things look much different, and it may not be as much fun. But we can take time to remember how much we value our freedoms, and thank those men and women who have bravely served to keep our nation free. It may look different, but those values remain the same. Happy Independence Day, from all of us at Mid-West Family La Crosse.