Happy Birthday, America!

As we celebrate the 4th of July this week, I’ve been thinking about how fortunate I am to live in this country. The freedoms we enjoy like the freedom to speak, to worship, to pursue opportunity are things I’m grateful for every day. They’ve shaped my life and made so many things possible.

Sometimes I think about how different things might have turned out if I’d been born somewhere else. The chance to learn, to grow, to contribute are all gifts made possible by the foundation this country was built on. And like many people, my story’s been shaped by those who believed in me, offered support, and helped me along the way.

While the 4th of July is always a big deal, next year will be an even bigger one as we celebrate 250 years since America’s founding. What a milestone. It’s a good time to take a minute to think about how far we’ve come, the work still ahead, and the values that have carried us through the good times and the tough ones too.

As I’ve shared before, I’m involved with the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit focused on restoring and preserving the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Right now, there’s a tremendous amount of work happening to get the Mall ready for this milestone. Together with the National Park Service, the Trust is helping lead important projects, like making the Mall more accessible, restoring key areas, and creating new exhibits and digital experiences so people of all ages can connect at a deeper level with our nation’s history. We’re doing all of this so that in the years ahead, visitors from across the country and around the world can see and feel what this place represents.

As Chairman of the Trust, I’m proud to support these efforts. And as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand that freedom isn’t just a gift, it’s also a responsibility. Each of us has a role and responsibility in shaping our country in how we lead, how we treat one another, and how we invest in the future. That belief is what motivates my involvement with the Trust and why this moment matters so much to me.

This week, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate what makes our country special and think about how each of us can help carry its story forward.

Wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.