:: Raising the American Spirit ::
When a child is born, he or she
is solely dependent upon caretakers. New parents embark on a
journey of a 24-hour cycle of care, love, and devotion.
Midnight feedings, diaper changing, and keeping the necessary
supplies at arms’ length require the parents’ undivided
attention. This involves making appropriate lists, taking
trips to the store, and knowing just what to buy. And a parent
survives on less sleep, adopts a new schedule, and budgets
accordingly.
As the child grows, the journey
changes, and a parent adapts. No longer does it require midnight
feedings, but choices and guidelines, such as tap lessons verses piano
lessons, soccer verses football, and an agreement between a mother and
a father on how to raise the child. These decisions necessitate order,
priority, and time, but still include the original love and devotion
at the basis of the parent-to-child relationship.
And yet, despite all the love and care
provided to that child, if you ask a child, “How are you?” their reply
won’t recognize all that attention, protection, and support they have
received throughout the years. Typically you’ll receive a response
centered on what’s going on that day, what they did in recess, or how
excited they are for a birthday party that weekend.
A quick look back in our relatively
short history lends insight to the similarities of a growing young
child to the emergence of the United States of America. What began as
an idea became our nation. And like a child, it did not come without
pain and suffering. It did not launch without a clash between the old
order and the new, vast rises and hard-felt falls, or military
rebellion. It required not only planning, resources, and people, but
also the devotion of individuals working for this idea that we call
democracy.
In 1761, individuals and families
living in America made up a generally loyal British society, though
other settlers also included Irish, Dutch, Swedes, Africans, French,
Germans, and others. After a decade of continual trials and
tribulations of the colonists defending their rights, military
conflict ensued, and eventually led to separation from the motherland.
This idea was growing, but needed support and ingenuity to bring it to
life. The revolutionaries of that time endured civil strife, performed
heroic acts, and gave their lives to creating what we cherish as the
‘American Spirit’.
Democracy, as a child, also required
planning and presented struggles. Our founding fathers were there in
the infancy and many great individuals have continued to ‘parent’ our
nation as it grows. Just as a mother and father, these great leaders
attempted to strike a balance of inspiration, hard work, discipline,
and freedom. As our country has gone from tyranny to freedom,
struggled through the Civil War to the Great Depression, and from
World War II to the tragedy of September 11, intertwined in those
struggles were great moments of triumph and celebration.
Today, what was once an infant idea now
stands full-grown. This idea guards and protects us from enemies and
looks to the future. It lives in our teachers, pastors, firemen, and
policemen; it is embodied in the members of the armed services. We see
it in our city streets, as American flags wave proudly on the houses
of our neighbors. We smell it in the barbeque as it cooks in
celebration of our Independence, and we hear the voice of freedom in
our churches every Sunday.
Like children, however, it is rare that
we reflect upon the attention, protection, and support that living in
America provides us. When we’re asked “How are you?” our minds
naturally turn to the daily joys and struggles of our lives. Our
Independence Day, however, affords us a time to really reflect on the
gifts given to us as Americans.
This 4th of July, as you
watch the fireworks burst into the sky, take your children to play at
the beach, or gather with your neighbors, recognize the opportunity to
really take a moment and reflect upon our journey from federalist
infanthood to the flourishing sons and daughters of freedom. How
grateful we are to live here, to live now, and to call the great
Americans of our past our founding fathers! How grateful we are to
have been raised in the ‘American Spirit!’
::
Constituent Services ::
In
today's world of automated answering machines and confusing
procedures, the federal government can often seem like a frustrating
maze. To cut through the red tape and ensure that the federal
government is working for you, my office operates three full-time
district offices in Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, and Emporia.
Our
district staff specializes in assisting constituents with a wide
variety of casework issues. Constituents frequently come in or call
district offices to ask questions regarding Social Security, Medicare,
the Internal Revenue Service, or other agencies. Caseworkers may be
able to assist you over the phone by directing you to the appropriate
office, providing necessary instructions, phone numbers or materials,
or finding out the status of an application. If your situation
requires, the caseworker may initiate a Congressional inquiry on your
behalf in the form of a phone call to an agency or a letter to the
appropriate agency official. I am happy to have a constituent
services representative in one of our district offices contact you
regarding a problem related to the federal government.
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Congressman Forbes and his
4th Congressional District
Constituent Services Team |
Chesapeake District Office
505 Independence Pkwy, Suite 104
Chesapeake, VA 23320
Phone: 757-382-0080
Fax: 757-382-0780
Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm, Monday – Friday
Colonial Heights District Office
2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Phone: 804-526-4969
Fax: 804-526-7486
Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm, Monday – Friday
Emporia District Office
425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
Phone: 434-634-5575
Fax: 434-634-0511
Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday |
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307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6365
505 Independence Pkwy, Suite 104
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757.382.0080
2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804.526.4969
425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575
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