National Legacy

I used to be a Park Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. That was a long, long time ago. But, it’s still something that surprises people and makes me proud. I have a National Park Geek decal on the back of my SUV. We take meticulously plotted car trips around the country every year. (Well, every year but this Covid-19 year.) Visiting celebrated and obscure locations is our jam.

My grandchildren are still too young to hike the Appalachian Trail or spend hours mesmerized by a sky filled with the colors of the International Balloon Festival in New Mexico. But, they’ve already been swimming in the ocean, fished at Lake Winnipesaukee, scrambled around fall pumpkin patches. Decades of other delights still await them.

It’s our job as grandparents to make sure all these wonders exist for generations to come. This beautiful land, its history and its people are our legacy. We must work hard to protect these gifts. We cannot rely completely on others to do this for us.

This is our collective heritage. This is our history. We must sustain and enhance it together. There is so much to celebrate on Independence Day. Let’s take some time (and yes, some money) to insure that our exquisite and bountiful country can be honored and revered for all our grandchildren…and their grandchildren, too.

Joanie Leopold