by Rocky Rogers,
Reedley City Manager
“Four score and seven years ago” begins one of the most famous of speeches ever made. Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln penned and spoke these words at the battlefield known as Gettysburg. The last portion of President Lincoln’s speech sets the tone for our nation to reach for the courage and resolve to birth freedom anew. Read and listen in your mind to these last words.
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — 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, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
The City has fought some hard battles this year in every way. Its citizens, city workers, and the businesses have all engaged in what can be figuratively seen as a battle. While there have been some “casualties” it remains for those of us who are left to finish the work we all began. We have endeavored to do many things this year. Some we’ve done, others we have not, but our focus and vision, our mission and our goals, remain resolute in that Reedley will overcome its differences to unite fully in becoming a place of economic strength, community involvement, physical beauty, and spiritual renewal.
I want to thank the staff of the City, the Council and Citizens for all of their dedication, their consecration to remain a government of the people, by the people and for the people and that we are still dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Enjoy your Holidays!
0 Comments