During the past two weeks, Times-Dispatch newsroom staff members asked people in the Richmond region, “What does freedom mean to you?“ We’ll run their photos and answers in Saturday’s Times-Dispatch as part of our special Fourth of July weekend coverage. Jake Stargell, 11, of Midlothian, who attends St. Michael’s Episcopal School, said freedom means getting to do what he wants.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.

The Times-Dispatch has lots of July 4th special coverage starting Friday including lots of reader comments about freedom.

During the past two weeks, Times-Dispatch newsroom staff members asked people in the Richmond region, “What does freedom mean to you?“ We’ll run their photos and answers in Saturday’s Times-Dispatch as part of our special Fourth of July weekend coverage.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.

During the past two weeks, Times-Dispatch newsroom staff members asked people in the Richmond region, “What does freedom mean to you?“ We’ll run their photos and answers in Saturday’s Times-Dispatch as part of our special Fourth of July weekend coverage. For Adish Jain, the foundation of freedom is the rule of law and equal treatment under the law.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.

With the Fourth of July less than a week away, most of you no doubt have plans to spend time with family and friends. Maybe you plan to catch some spectacular fireworks or host a cookout in your backyard. Whatever your plans, when you gather, what will you talk about? Will you catch up on what your neighbors have been doing since the last community cookout? Or whether you can afford a trip to the beach this year? Or how good Aunt Dot’s potato salad tastes year after year?

Over the past two weeks, Times-Dispatch newsroom staff members asked people in the Richmond region, “What does freedom mean to you?“ We’ll run their photos and answers in Saturday’s Times-Dispatch as part of our special Fourth of July weekend coverage. And each day this week starting today, we’ll feature one of the more poignant responses. Sam Mickens, baseball coach and history teacher at Trinity Episcopal School, said freedom brings to mind all Americans who have fought for others to be free.

Virginia will keep its interstate highway rest areas open through the Fourth of July holiday weekend, even though money to operate them has run out. Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Britt Drewes said that the 19 rest areas scheduled to be closed will stay open until later in July. Exact closing dates have not been decided.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July? Are you planning a family reunion? Going to a community picnic? Watching a fireworks display? Share your plans with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Send an e-mail with your plans and contact information to . Please put “Fourth of July” in the subject field.