Just over 225 years ago, brave men became patriots, uniting a nation under a single, basic premise that for us as a "people," our God-given rights would be preserved. To this day, we consider the eloquent words of the Declaration of Independence sacred, that indeed "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."

After all, it was these words that spurred a nation towards independence, eventually creating what is recognized as the oldest written national constitution currently in effect.

A Constitution that still emphasizes the rights of its citizens before the rights of its government, a Constitution that preludes outlining the government's power by stating the government's purpose as one to "form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," all of which ensure protection of the people governed, not those who govern.

Since these foundations, men and women have dedicated their hearts and given their lives to protecting the very liberties for which our forefathers fought.

As a nation, we have prevailed throughout history on the battlefield as well as domestically, and when people look at this great land, they envision symbols like the Stars and Stripes, the Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell ­ symbols that will forever shine brightly as beacons of freedom and hope! We should take pride in these symbols of American values.

We should take pride in the sacrifices prior generations, and now this generation, have endured to protect the freedoms we live with today. We should take pride in a federal system of government where sovereignty lies with the people.

We should take pride in living in a country dedicated to ensuring justice is served whenever evil acts are committed. We should take pride in the resurgence of patriotism that has spread throughout our nation. We should take pride in our president's compassion and dedication to serving the best interests of all Americans.

We should take pride in our ability to engage in scholarly debate over heated issues while upholding respect for our neighbor. We should take pride in being Americans.

Yes, I am proud to be an American! I could not imagine living in a country where the outcome of an "election" is decided by the regime that is in power; countries in which speaking out against the government results in jail time, or even death.

I could not imagine living in a country where my primary source of fear comes not from foreign enemies, but from how my government may exercise force on its own citizens.

I could not imagine living in a country that discourages personal liberty and competition. I could not imagine living in a country that depreciates the value of diversity; a country in which freedom of expression, religion and press are not valued as God-given rights. Indeed, I could not imagine living anywhere else.

America has been through the fire on numerous occasions, emerging from each tribulation with renewed strength and resolve.

But a year ago, a group of men believed that their evil actions would inflict fatal wounds on the morale and resolve of this great nation by taking the lives of innocent civilians. They believed that while our national security has been threatened before, we had never faced nor could accept the horrors of such massive, heartless attacks on innocent lives.

The truth, however, is that while the physical landscape of the United States was wounded, American resolve was so strong that even a year after our homeland was attacked, there remains overwhelming support for ridding the world of such iniquity.

Our resolve is so strong that almost 140 years after they were first orated, Abraham Lincoln's famous words are applicable in today's search for justice: "That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth."

This generation will forever be defined by the Sept. 11 attacks, just as previous generations have been defined by battles for independence and World Wars.

The obvious result, in each case, was the valiant loss of lives in the name of freedom. But just as important as recognizing such valor, is the result we, as a society, live with. It is vital that we live each day in a manner appropriately honoring the sacrifices made to preserve the American way of life.

With each passing day, I try to honor the many fallen heroes by making every possible effort to uphold the values and blessings we hold dear in American culture. In doing so, I begin each day the same way, and ask each of you to join me: I look to the Stars and Stripes and thank God I'm an American!