Thousands of men and women, including my cousin from way back, gave their lives for our country. My cousin did this in 1776. In fact, he did this when General George Washington and our Continental Army were fighting with all their heart and soul for our independence, our republic, our democracy.

My cousin was a school teacher, can you imagine? In the spring of 1776, my cousin – he was from Connecticut – joined Knowlton’s Rangers, the first organized intelligence service organization of the United States of America led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton.

In 1776 there was a planned British invasion of Manhattan. In an attempt to identify the plans for that invasion, General George Washington called for a volunteer to go behind enemy lines. My cousin was the only one to volunteer. It cost him his life.

My cousin is Nathan Hale.

He was executed by the British near 66th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan.

Were he alive today, Nathan Hale would stand with all Americans who are fiercely bent on protecting our republic, our democracy. He would stand against anyone who posed a threat to this sacred place we call home; when so many members of so many American families have given their lives to protect us.

When he was leaving the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in September 1787, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin was asked what the delegates had done. Franklin answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Our republic is under threat now. As an American, I don’t care what party someone belongs to. One of the great things about our republic is having different parties, different views, varied opinions, and so on.

Different parties should not and does not mean – enemies.

Now, one of our political party’s has lost its way. The world will never be free of people who seek total power over others; that’s why our founders drafted the constitution – to protect our republic. Any threat to the constitution is a threat to you, your family, and our republic. It’s, “We the people…”

Happy July Fourth.