Two hundred thirty-four years ago, at the dawn of our great nation, the Founding Fathers set a course destined to uniquely and permanently alter human history.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence with friends and family, we reflect on the timeless principles upon which our predecessors had the foresight to base our system of government.  It is by their words and deeds that we have the opportunity to flourish in this land of the free and home of the brave. The ideals for which they struggled cast the mold for a nation where opportunity could blossom and to which the weary eyes of the world would look for hope and inspiration as tribute to the enduring power of liberty.

On July 4, 1776, these courageous men etched in parchment the unalienable rights bestowed by our Creator; and ever since that day countless men and women from sea to shining sea have defended freedom and promoted liberty across the globe.  Today, we honor their sacrifices with gratitude, offering our steadfast resolve to face the challenges that lay before us.

For many in Louisiana, these trials do not lie dormant in the haze of an unknown future, but in the excruciating immediacy of the present.  We have now entered the 74th day of the gulf oil spill, a disaster of epic environmental and economic impact to the Louisiana way of life that has long endured for generations.  Just as we remember the patriots and statesman who struggled for the nation we are so fortunate to have inherited, so too must we consider those who struggle today to prevent their livelihoods from drowning in the mire of either oil– or bureaucratic incompetence.

We at the Republican Party of Louisiana wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July.  Enjoy the fireworks and cherish the fellowship with your family and friends, and observe not only the challenges overcome, but the challenges which threaten to overcome us.

Sincerely,

Roger Villere, Chairman