America’s National Parks
100 years and counting…
Mission Statement
In 2017
, Independence Day
Celebration (IDC) celebrates
“America’s National Parks, 100 years and counting …” as we once again
Independence Day Celebrations (IDC) is a
non-profi t organization committed to uniting the
community of Morgan Hill, CA around the vision
of our founding fathers who boldly proclaimed
that “all men are created equal and endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.” We are committed to reinforcing and
sustaining the principles of American freedom in
our community through Independence Day events
of the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest.
bring the Freedom Fest events to Morgan Hill in recognition of the
July 4th holiday. Our dedicated group of patriotic community-minded
volunteers have worked closely together over the past decades, making often for months at a time. He didn’t’ waste time when he came
us feel more like a big family. United, we share a common vision, an ideal home though. Being a city boy from Ohio, he made sure to get us
of how to serve our community. This year as we celebrate the land of the kids out to a national, or even state park every weekend he was
free and the home of the brave, our theme honors our national parks. in town. (I just wish he had a bigger selection of cassette tapes!
With everything going on in the world today, it is easy to forget the
I wasn’t able to listen to Hank Williams again for a long time due
roots of our country and how it grew from thirteen colonies to fi fty to the thousands of times I listened to dad’s single cassette tape
states. One of the important, and more positive acts in American history during those years. LOL) Those great memories will remain with
was the creation of the National Park Service by President Wilson on me my entire life.
August 25, 1916. This new federal bureau in the Department of the Today, roughly 60% of the 417 park areas administered by the
Interior became responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and National Park Service have been set aside as symbols and evidence
monuments then managed by the department and those established of our history and prehistory. Many of our natural parks contain
since. For those who are curious, Yellowstone was the fi rst national park historic places that represent important aspects of that history.
to be established, as early as 1872. Whether you are a history buff or a nature lover or just like to get
My family and I, like countless number of Americans have enjoyed
this farsighted legacy for many years. Living in California, we have
away, our national park system has something for you.
The IDC family invites you and your family to join the Morgan
enjoyed diverse wonders and beauty in Joshua Tree as well as Yosemite Hill Freedom Fest events as we create a little Morgan Hill
National Parks while closer to home enjoyed our periodic visits to togetherness by celebrating “America’s National Parks, 100 years
Golden Gate Park and Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. My father and counting …”
worked two, sometimes three jobs which kept him away from home,
America’s NATIONAL PARKS ★ Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 2017
★
JEFF DIXON
IDC President
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