Happy Independence Day!
Dear Team TransCor,
On Sunday, we celebrate the birth of our nation. 245 years ago, our Founding Fathers charted a new course for their homeland and established a nation built on what was then considered to be a bold and even radical idea:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
That phrase from the Declaration of Independence has been a cornerstone of the American spirit. Most Americans can probably quote it from memory alone. It expresses the ideals we strive to pursue and maintain: Equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And while we continue to work toward those goals, those declarations remain our True North; the point of direction for the decisions, laws, and morals of our nation when we are at our best.
An equally important but lesser-known phrase is found at the end of the Declaration of Independence. Right before the signatures of John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and others, the Declaration of Independence includes this promise:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
In this conclusion, the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence demonstrated their commitment to the rights stated above. They mutually dedicated their lives, fortunes, and honor to ensure the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those concepts are beautifully linked and still as relevant today as they were in 1776.
The protection of our rights hinges upon our lives, fortunes, and honor. This means that who we are, what we have (both now and in the future), and how we conduct ourselves are all components of the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of ourselves and others. It’s a great reminder of the importance of having strong values.
At TransCor, our values shape so much of what we do. And beyond our shared mission, each of us has an opportunity to define and practice our own personal values. This holiday weekend, I would encourage you to pause to reflect on your values. What are the values you believe in? And what are you doing to reinforce them in your life? The answers to those questions are the things that change lives, communities, and nations.
Enjoy your weekend and happy Independence Day!
Reverently,
Curt Sullivan
President, TransCor America