Hello Westfield! Hope you all had a fantastic week. I am currently out of town for a long weekend of Army training, so I will keep this week’s update shorter than usual.
The week marked the anniversaries of two important historical events; 75 years since Allied forces landed 150,000 troops on the beaches of Normandy and 30 years since the tragic Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. Although two very different situations, both have forced us to reflect on the great human cost of freedom. As an elected official, I often tout the importance of fighting for democracy, but my words will never be able to encapsulate the feeling one gets from photos of the aftermath of the D-Day landing or the iconic “Tank Man” picture.
I constantly say how lucky I am to have been born in the greatest country on Earth, but even so, I think it is all too easy to take our democracy and our way of life for granted. The global fight against tyranny continues to this day. While I am extremely proud that the United States often leads that fight, I know we still have a long way to go. This week, on the anniversary of these two world-changing events, let us all honor the sacrifice and bravery of our WWII veterans who beat back the world’s most infamous tyrant against all odds. Let us also continue to root for those struggling against oppressive regimes worldwide and remember that miraculous victories like D-Day are rare. However, I believe that if we can stand united against tyranny like the Allies on the beaches of Normandy, we will continue to tip the odds closer towards freedom for those still living without it.
On a somewhat lighter note, this week also marks the graduation of most of Westfield’s high school seniors. I will be very sorry to miss the ceremonies but would like to wish them all a sincere Congratulations on their achievement and the best of luck in their next endeavor, whatever it may be!
That’s all for me this week, folks. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at (413) 572-3920 or[email protected]. Have a great weekend!
