Illinois Tollway’s Post

Memorial Day is one of the most important days we recognize as citizens of the United States of America. This quote by Harry S. Truman helps us understand that it is our duty to reflect on and express our gratitude for the service of those who have fought to protect our rights and freedoms. Many individuals have given their lives to enshrine the daily comforts and feelings of happiness we are able to enjoy, and we should never take this for granted. Originally, this day celebrated the end of the Civil War, but it now acts as a solemn reminder of all that we have fought for as a nation throughout our proud history: freedom, liberty, democracy, and fairness. Pausing regular life to remember the sacrifices of those who came before and celebrating all that we have yet to do as a great nation is one small way to show our understanding of the complex and painful histories we represent as a nation. When so much of the world is experiencing so much grief, we owe it to ourselves to reflect on our own past and all that we have worked together to protect and provide for the citizens of the United States. This Memorial Day, as we enjoy the beginning of summer, let us also solemnly consider our ongoing responsibility to uphold and fight for those values that comprise this beautiful country: freedom, fairness, and equality for all. #memorialday #freedom #equalityforall

Memorial Day is one of the most important days we recognize as citizens of the United States of America. This quote by Harry S. Truman helps us understand that it is our duty to reflect on and express our gratitude for the service of those who have fought to protect our rights and freedoms. Many individuals have given their lives to enshrine the daily comforts and feelings of happiness we are able to enjoy, and we should never take this for granted. Originally, this day celebrated the end of the Civil War, but it now acts as a solemn reminder of all that we have fought for as a nation throughout our proud history: freedom, liberty, democracy, and fairness. Pausing regular life to remember the sacrifices of those who came before and celebrating all that we have yet to do as a great nation is one small way to show our understanding of the complex and painful histories we represent as a nation. When so much of the world is experiencing so much grief, we owe it to ourselves to reflect on our own past and all that we have worked together to protect and provide for the citizens of the United States. This Memorial Day, as we enjoy the beginning of summer, let us also solemnly consider our ongoing responsibility to uphold and fight for those values that comprise this beautiful country: freedom, fairness, and equality for all. #memorialday #freedom #equalityforall

Today, on the federal holiday of Juneteenth, we come together to honor and remember the end of slavery in the United States. Let us reflect on our history, celebrate progress we have made, and renew our commitment to achieving equality and justice for all. 🔹Learn more about the the hues associated with the federal holiday and what they symbolize: https://lnkd.in/eV7cH-CC

Happy 4th of July! Today, we honor the spirit of independence and the power of liberty. As we celebrate, let’s remember that 'Liberty is the breath of life to nations.' Enjoy the fireworks and festivities, and cherish the freedom we hold dear. Happy Independence Day from the California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals! 🇺🇸✨ #IndependenceDay #Freedom #CABREP #BlackRealEstateProfessionals #supportingblackleaders #blackleadership #empoweringblackleaders #blackbusinessleaders #blackrealestate #blackhomeownership #blackleadershipadvancement #Allyship

4th of July is very significant in American history marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The United States officially became its own nation. Many USA citizens celebrate America’s birthday with festivals, parades, fireworks, barbecues and other festive activities. With the complexities of American history, and the current civic/political environments, traditions and celebrations may not everyone's experience. I want to share some thoughts to help in your own 🇺🇲 4th conversations and events. The Declaration of Independence states three key ideas that built America’s foundation, but there are three key ideas the document expresses: 1. All men are created equal and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 2. It’s the government‘s responsibility to protect those rights. 3. The people have the right to defend these rights for themselves and their fellow Americans. These principles are worth celebrating. All are equal and have rights. You deserve protection. I love this time of year. I love CELEBRATING 🇺🇲 freedom, diversity, and America. The complexities of America deserve our complex conversations. And I love parades, people, patriotism and the principles we are celebrating 🇺🇲. #4thofjuly #declarationofindependence #usa #parades #history #godblessamerica #fireworks

As we celebrate the birth of our nation with friends and family this Fourth of July, we are reminded of the principles behind our nation's founding—freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness for all. These ideals are at the heart of TakeCharge's mission as we work to counter the common narrative that America is systemically racist. Last year, I wrote an Op-Ed (https://lnkd.in/gCFPpSxt) detailing why black Americans don't have to choose between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July - because without the Declaration of Independence, there would be no Juneteenth. And there would be no Juneteenth without the sacrifice of 350,000 white men of the Union Army from non-slave-holding states who died in the Civil War, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. There are organizations using both holidays to divide the nation by insisting that America has been broken by systemic racism. And this helps no one — black or white. So, today, we honor the progress America has made and the strides we continue to take toward a more prosperous future for every American. Our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of skin color, understands they have the opportunity to achieve the American dream remains unwavering. This Independence Day, we celebrate the American spirit and the promise it holds for the citizens of this nation - regardless of skin color. Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July. https://lnkd.in/gHU-uFEB

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴: - 𝟭.) 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁, experiencing slavery in Kentucky as a kid, but sent back to Pennsylvania because you taught yourself to read; - 𝟮.) 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 during the Civil War, but given no credit because the Militia Act in-place at the time did not allow Black people to fight; - 𝟯.) 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁 when learning they're forming a Colored Regiment, only to face racism there and being used by Connecticut as a quota count by writing on your enlistment papers that you're from Stonington; - 𝟰.) 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁 with your regiment at the end of the Civil War in 1865, only for Connecticut residents to vote to leave the word "White" in the state constitution as a requirement to vote; - 𝟱.) 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 of Connecticut's Old State House with your regiment, only for the state to erase that history; - 𝟲.) 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟳, documenting your experiences, which is then used for decades by other authors and media producers to depict the experience of the Black soldier during the Civil War, but you are rarely given credit; - 𝟳.) 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟮, buried in a Colored Cemetery in Woodbury, NJ, only for that Cemetery to be paved over to make a parking lot in 1962; - 𝟴.) 𝗔 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 in New Haven, CT celebrating the Connecticut Regiment you served on, but your name is left off; 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄, I learn you were a political activist, involved in local government by becoming a delegate for Independent voters unhappy with the New Jersey state legislature. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆, 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗰... 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱. Still walking... #Life

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴: - 𝟭.) 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁, experiencing slavery in Kentucky as a kid, but sent back to Pennsylvania because you taught yourself to read; - 𝟮.) 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 during the Civil War, but given no credit because the Militia Act in-place at the time did not allow Black people to fight; - 𝟯.) 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁 when learning they're forming a Colored Regiment, only to face racism there and being used by Connecticut as a quota count by writing on your enlistment papers that you're from Stonington; - 𝟰.) 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁 with your regiment at the end of the Civil War in 1865, only for Connecticut residents to vote to leave the word "White" in the state constitution as a requirement to vote; - 𝟱.) 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 of Connecticut's Old State House with your regiment, only for the state to erase that history; - 𝟲.) 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟳, documenting your experiences, which is then used for decades by other authors and media producers to depict the experience of the Black soldier during the Civil War, but you are rarely given credit; - 𝟳.) 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟮, buried in a Colored Cemetery in Woodbury, NJ, only for that Cemetery to be paved over to make a parking lot in 1962; - 𝟴.) 𝗔 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 in New Haven, CT celebrating the Connecticut Regiment you served on, but your name is left off; 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄, I learn you were a political activist, involved in local government by becoming a delegate for Independent voters unhappy with the New Jersey state legislature. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆, 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗰... 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱. Still walking... #Life

🎆 The History of the Fourth of July: Celebrating Independence and Resilience 🇺🇸 As we gather to celebrate the Fourth of July, it’s essential to reflect on the history and significance of this monumental day. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, marking the birth of the United States of America and its separation from British rule. The Declaration, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, was a bold assertion of the colonies' desire for freedom and self-governance. It laid the foundation for a nation built on principles of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. Over the years, the Fourth of July has become a day of unity and celebration, filled with fireworks, parades, and gatherings. It's a time to honor the bravery and vision of our Founding Fathers, as well as the countless individuals who have contributed to the nation's growth and success. At Walker Capital Partners, we recognize the importance of independence and resilience, values that are deeply ingrained in our nation's history and spirit. As we enjoy the festivities, let's also remember the significance of this day and the enduring strength it symbolizes. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July! 🇺🇸 #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #AmericanHistory #WalkerCapitalPartners #Liberty #Resilience