10-4 Magazine / July 2025 53 arduous undertaking when it is done correctly. There is a big, beautiful gate, and the opportunity that awaits is the chance for citizenship. Once granted, all options and “rights” are available to you here as protected by our Constitution. The only official job title actually mentioned in our US Constitution is the presidency – the top office and leader of the Executive Branch of our government. I believe that is the only job that the Constitution explicitly states the office holder must be a sovereign US-born citizen. Bear in mind, the Constitution was written at a time when the Founding Fathers did not trust foreign-born people and suspected their allegiance. Today, I’m afraid there are people elected to the highest levels of government that we suspect hold their allegiance to the almighty dollar and will knowingly sell out our country for a price! This month I chose to write about the people who still travel to this land and bring with them skills, pride, and determination. Unless you happen to be a full-blooded native person, please note: those who have ancestors that were from this region before the conquest don’t call themselves “Native Americans” but rather by tribe or family linages. We, or our ancestors, were all foreigners at one time. I often ask myself what it would take to collect up all your worldly belongings, kiss your family goodbye in the old country, and walk away from the only life you have ever known? Then, hop on a plane, walk a great distance, or maybe board a ship, working your way in exchange for passage to a land that speaks a different language, that has unfamiliar foods, and various religious practices and ceremonies. Earlier in my life, I was shipped overseas for as long as a year, but I also knew when my time was served there I would return home. I know a few people from different corners of the globe who arrived on our shores and went through the complete process of obtaining their citizenship. Every one of them wear their patriotism with pride. They will refer to themselves as an American trucker, an American auto worker, and even an American ditch-digger, always referring to themselves as an American first,notasahyphenatedAmerican. I am reluctant to admit it, but most native born citizens take for granted their true status as Americans. Not only do they not appreciate its significance, but they do not recognize its value, either. They don’t actively promote the greatness of our nation, its endless opportunities, its freedoms, or its available successes. I was raised at a time when people didn’t travel like they do today. Unless you were sent off to war or served in the military, your chances of meeting foreigners was extremely slim. My first interaction with an outsider or emigrant was in high school when we had a Jamaican family move to the area. I’m reminded of this because Harvey Allen was an extraordinary athlete. Some of his records in track and field still stand today. I remember his father worked at the local dairy farm with my older brother, which was a good thing, since my brother could be a slacker at times, and Mr. Allen worked harder than anyone to make up the difference. Later, I had an experience with a young driver while I was at Schneider Specialized Carriers who walked from Guatemala to the United States carrying a new pair of shoes. His original shoes wore out on the way, but he saved the new pair for when he went to work at hisnewjob. Hehadbeeninthiscountry for five years and was working with a green card. He learned to speak and write English, worked for a big company as a driver, and saved enough money to purchase a truck and lease it to a major carrier. Heaccomplishedmoreinjust five years than most of us will in our lifetime! It was always a good time when we traveled together because he had no fear – every challenge was just another day for him. He never took for granted the opportunity to be in America. I don’t know if he received citizenship, as I lost track of him, but I do know Luis is the type of person America needs – young, strong, resourceful and, above all else, proud to be an American trucker. July is one of my favorite times of the year – not just because of the parades and fireworks, but because that’s when we see so many towns line their streets with the Red, White and Blue. The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the sole mistress of every US soldier, sailor, airman, and marinewhoenteredintoconflict. My heart swells with pride when I catch a glimpse of “Her” flowing gracefully in the wind. I served my time under arms many years ago when we were asked to defend this land against the threat of Communism, Socialism and other forms of government that rob its citizens of their freedoms. Any time I hear the National Anthem, I still stop whatever I’m doing and listen and, if possible, I face the flag and let those words soak into my soul. Like so many of us, I have ancestry from Northern Europe, but any time I fill out a form and it asks for my ancestry I check the “other” box and then add “God fearing proud American!” I would like to give credit to the young man who delivered me to this finemagazine. Asamid-westerner,we didn’t have access to 10-4 Magazine not thatmanyyearsago. Ourfirstexposure was through my son and his eye-catching “3fifty9”Peterbilt. Wehadbuiltitafew years earlier, and Mr. Art Czajkowski followed our build on Facebook. One day while crossing Nebraska, he saw our truck and flipped around to get a photo and run down the driver. A couple months later, he saw me out there and called me on the phone to see if he could photograph my old “Spirit Chaser” working show truck. At the time it never occurred to me that I would make the
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