Happy Fourth of July! Published June 30, 2015 By Brig. Gen. Carl E. Schaefer 412th Test Wing commander EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team, This Independence Day weekend, we celebrate the day our great nation declared independence for the original thirteen colonies and thus the birth of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence is the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty, an ideal we continue to cherish and protect. Here the history of our country and its liberty began. On May 15, 1776, the Virginia Convention passed a resolution "to declare the United Colonies free and independent states." The decision of the convention led to the drafting of a resolution supported by a majority of the colonies, and later the Declaration of Independence itself, supported by all thirteen colonies. Set forth by the Congress and the Committee of Five, Thomas Jefferson set out to present the colonies to the world as a new, sovereign nation of liberty and justice. As it concludes, the Declaration affirms the indelible obligation we have between ourselves and our nation proclaiming, "We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." The convictions you hold and your desire to continually make our remarkable nation rise to new heights are the embodiment of what this day means to our country. The Fourth of July is a time to enjoy family and friends, but it also serves as a reminder of what our Founding Fathers and members of our armed forces have sacrificed on our behalf. From the American Revolution to present day, we continue to protect America's freedom. I thank all of you - Airman, civilian and contractor. Your hard work and commitment to providing the most advanced and superior air power to the warfighter makes us the greatest air force in the world. You are the most valuable asset to our Air Force. Take care of your wingmen; thank your families for me for all their support; and have a fun and safe Independence Day weekend!