On America’s 250th, Idahoans should remember what we owe the nation | Opinion
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, many of us will gather for the traditions we’ve always loved: fireworks, backyard barbecues, parades downtown, and standing together to sing the national anthem.
I’ve celebrated those traditions my whole life. But over the years, they’ve come to mean something much deeper.
As a child, the Fourth of July was about excitement and fireworks. Today, when I watch fireworks or stand for the national anthem, I think about the generations of Americans who sacrificed so my family, and millions of others, could enjoy the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. I don’t hear just a song or see just a flag. I see a reminder that liberty has always required ordinary people willing to serve something greater than themselves.
That perspective has shaped my life.
I lost my father as a teenager to a drunk driving accident. It was a tragedy that changed the course of my life. Through organizations focused on substance abuse prevention, I found mentors who showed me the power of service and community. Those experiences inspired me to study psychology, dedicate myself to helping others and eventually serve in the Idaho Legislature.
Today, when I think about patriotism, I think less about what America owes me and more about what I owe America.
My ancestors came to this country with very little. In just a few generations, my family built a life that would have been unimaginable a century earlier. I’m proud of the education I received, the family my wife and I have built over nearly 25 years of marriage and the opportunity to serve my community in public office. My family didn’t simply benefit from America. Generation after generation, they helped build it, because a country is not a backdrop for private ambition. It is a project that requires active participation from the people who benefit from it.
It turns out most Americans still share those beliefs.
A recent national survey by LSG found that 97% of likely voters believe freedom and individual rights are essential to being American. Ninety-six percent say working hard and being self-reliant matters, 96% believe voting is central to being an American, and 95% say respecting the Constitution and our institutions is important. Those numbers remind us that the values holding us together are stronger than the disagreements that often dominate the conversation.
That gives me hope.
Our Constitution has carried this nation through war, economic hardships, and political disagreement. America has faced difficult moments before, yet we’ve continued moving forward because each generation has chosen to strengthen rather than abandon the institutions that make self-government possible.
This year, I’ve had the privilege of participating in Idaho’s America250 celebrations. My daughter and I have been performing Forever Idaho, a song commissioned to commemorate this historic anniversary. But what has inspired me even more is a statewide challenge encouraging Idahoans to complete acts of service in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The original goal was 250,000 acts of service. Idahoans have already surpassed 300,000.
To me, that’s patriotism in action.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, let’s enjoy the fireworks and wave the flag with pride. But let’s also remember why we’re celebrating. We honor those who came before us not simply by remembering their sacrifices, but by making sacrifices of our own, through service, civic participation, and gratitude.
Rep. Marco Erickson, R-Idaho Falls, represents District 33 in the Idaho Legislature.