Last night we went to the Cuero fireworks show. And what a show it was.

From the first boom and then flash of color to the very last sizzle of smoke, it was mesmerizing.

The park, Wal-Mart parking lot and the high school parking lot were full of cars and people who had come to enjoy a Fourth of July tradition. The residents of Cuero Nursing and Rehab lined up along the edge of their parking lot to enjoy the show.

Life seemed to stand still for a brief 30 minutes as the sky filled with vivid reds, blues, gold, purples and greens.

For a brief time the problems of the world went away. The importance of family and friends was brought into focus and the meaning of the celebration was forefront.

For 232 years we have been a nation of leaders and followers, of thinkers and doers, of good people and bad, of writers and readers, of players and spectators. We have been a brave country in times of disaster and destruction. We have helped many countries fight to remain free or to regain their freedom. We have won some of those battles and lost some.

We don’t always agree with the decisions of our elected officials, and we have the right and freedom to voice our opinions and work to change those decisions.

We have learned that we can get more accomplished if we work as a team and not as an individual.

We in small towns can have just as big a voice as those in the mega-cities.

And as we show time and time again, we in the small towns can make big things happen by pulling together and working with a common goal.

We are very fortunate to live in the USA - the land of many opportunities and where dreams do come true. Don’t let them pass you by.