Born on the 4th of July

On July the 4th, we will celebrate America’s 226 years as an independent nation and honor those who fought to keep us free.

With the words of the founding fathers still ringing with the sound of freedom, on this glorious occasion commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776, we are celebrating two birthdays here in Macon County: not only the years of liberty for the United States of America, but also Logan Hernandez, who was born on this very same day 16 years ago in 1996.

In 2005, when Logan was only nine years old, she spoke with the Macon County Chronicle and we caught up with her again last Saturday morning as she prepares to celebrate her sweet 16th birthday on July the 4th. The daughter of Diana and David Hernandez, Logan attends MCHS where she is a member of the Interact Club and runs cross-country & track. She is a lifeguard at the Lafayette Swimming Pool.

“I’m proud that I was born on the 4th of July,” said Logan, “and my grandfather, Doyle Gaines, has always called me his Star Spangled Baby. There is always a celebration on my birthday with a cake and fireworks and I don’t mind sharing my big day with the USA.” “My big dream for my birthday is a car,” she said, “but I will be happy no matter what.”

Logan says that she loves the United States and it is the best place in the world to live. “We have the freedom to make our own choices and I feel an immense gratitude to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day to fight for the freedom my family and I enjoy.”
Logan’s future plans are to be a pediatric nurse and she hasn’t decided on which college she wants to attend. She is the granddaughter of Doyle and Shirley Gaines and Nelson and Josie Hernandez.

(It was an aged John Adams who, when he was asked to prepare a statement on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, delivered two words that still convey our great hope every Fourth of July: “Independence Forever.”