As we rush around preparing for the long holiday weekend, planning our picnics, trips, parades and where we'll watch fireworks, let's pause, reflect, offer up a prayer of thanks and thank our troops, our veterans, our fallen heroes and their families, whose enormous sacrifices 24/7 make it possible to celebrate the 232rd birthday of the U.S.A. in whatever manner we choose. Their sacrifice also allows us to continue to live in freedom in America, Land of the Free. Only because of the brave.

Dawn Pletcher,

Wellsboro