Dear Friends,
Happy Independence Day to you all!
The Fourth of July is a great day to remember that when the founders of our country issued the Declaration of Independence, they did more than just establish a single new nation. They expressed universal principles about the equality of all people and about how all of us throughout the world have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thanks to the wisdom and foresight of those founders, members of our multicultural American society enjoy equality under the law and the freedom to pursue their dreams and aspirations without fear of persecution. The 2.3 million residents of Queens, the most diverse county in this great nation, are among those who experience this equality and freedom.
We call Queens “The World’s Borough” because our residents include immigrants from more than 100 countries and speakers of more than 160 languages. But despite our cultural and linguistic differences, we all share in that desire for equality and liberty that our nation’s founders knew was universal. That’s what makes Queens uniquely American.
It is therefore most appropriate that the Fourth of July is a day of fantatstic celebration across our wonderful borough. I hope your own celebrations are safe and enjoyable as we remember how fortunate we are to live in this amazing country.
Warm regards,
Melinda Katz
President
Borough of Queens