I sit in this wheelchair every Fourth of July and ask myself: was it worth it? I don’t just mean my injury. And I don’t just mean my service. I mean the deeper question behind all of it—what we are actually celebrating on Independence Day. Was it worth it?
And what are we celebrating, really?
I grew up just outside Philadelphia, surrounded by the story of America’s founding. I was a child during the 1976 Bicentennial, in the city where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution was written. American history wasn’t something I studied—it was something I grew up inside.
My family has been part of that story for generations. We were in the colonies before independence. My family fought in the Revolutionary War. My grandfather served. My father served. I served.
At 26, while serving in the United States Navy, I broke my neck in an accident and became permanently paralyzed. I’ve lived in a wheelchair ever since.
That changes how you see time, sacrifice, and meaning. Life becomes divided into before and after—and both remain with you.
Today I live in Coronado, California, where military service is part of everyday life. Every Fourth of July, our island fills with 100,000 to 150,000 people. The parade passes in front of my home. Fireworks light up San Diego Bay.
It is a powerful celebration—but it also raises a question I can’t ignore. Because most people aren’t thinking about 1776 when they’re stuck in traffic or watching fireworks.
So it’s worth asking: What exactly are we honoring?
The Declaration of Independence didn’t create a finished nation. It declared an idea—that government derives its power from the people, that liberty is a natural right, and that self-government is possible.
That idea has shaped everything since. But it hasn’t finished its work.
Some people see July 4th as a celebration of how far we’ve come. Others see it as a reminder of how far there is still to go. I think both are true.
So I’m curious:
When you strip away the fireworks and tradition, what does Independence Day mean to you? Is it a celebration of what America has achieved?
Or a reminder of what still needs to be built?
I’m asking because I think thoughtful people can see this differently—and those differences are worth hearing.