VK Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS

President and Founder, Eye Foundation of America

Morgantown, VAThe collective effort of Americans to overcome the monstrous COVID-19 has yielded results, and this 4^th of July, Americans do not feel as unsafe as in 2020 to get out and get together to celebrate the Independence Day of the United States of America.

I am from the medical fraternity, and I think I should feel proud that my fraternity deserves all praise for leading the fight against the pandemic and making it possible for Americans to feel safe to celebrate 4^th of July this year.

In the US, nearly 600 front-line health care workers appear to have died of COVID-19, according to Lost on the Frontline, a project launched by The Guardian and KHN that aims to count, verify and memorialize every health care worker who dies during the pandemic.

The tally includes doctors, nurses and paramedics, as well as crucial health care support staff such as hospital janitors, administrators and nursing home workers, who have put their own lives at risk during the pandemic to help care for others.

I salute my fraternity.

I congratulate The Indian Panorama for bringing out a special edition on the occasion of the American Independence Day.

I take this opportunity to greet my fellow Americans on the historic day of 4^th of July.

God Bless America!