FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Forsyth County Republican Party’s annual Fourth of July cookout at McDonald’s Community Room provided a great opportunity for folks to unmask, fellowship on a beautiful afternoon, enjoy some great food and meet many of the candidates running for local and state offices. Hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity.

Fetch Your News askes some of the candidates in attendance what Independence day means to them.

U.S. Senate candidate Gary Black celebrated Independence Day at the annual Forsyth County Republican Party cookout Friday.

Georgia Agriculture Secretary Gary Black, a candidate for U.S. Senate said, “This is just a great day for us to remember this great country our founding fathers created for us. It is also a day of a little sadness when I look at the state our country is in today. But the foundation is there. We will be back stronger then eve.”

Dr. Rich McCormick, a former United States Marine pilot running for 7^th District Congress, said “Independence Day is his favorite holiday. It’s about patriotism, love of country, family and the unique opportunities that define the United States and this great experiment that started over 200 years ago. It is something that is unique in this word where people can come from all over the world, no matter what you look like, no matter what your background is, no matter about your family ties.  None of that matters. What matters is if you work hard, you will be successful. You don’t have those opportunities anywhere else in this world. It may be the greatest holiday ever created just because of that. I have two sons getting ready to go into the marines. They get it. They understand why this country is worth giving your life for as long as we preserve what is at the heart of this country.”

Dist. 26 State Rep. Lauren McDonald said Independence Day takes on a special meaning this year. “It means a lot more this year because everybody is back together. That’s something we missed last year because of COVID-19. It’s nice to get people back together smiling and not having to wear masks, celebrating the freedoms our forefathers gave us. That is what the 4^th of July means to me and it’s great to see all these constitutionalists out here sharing their views and being pro-America.