13 Gun Salute

Yankee Doodle by A. M. Willard also known as The Spirit of 1776

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." John Adams in a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776 

John Adams might have gotten the date wrong by two days but he was correct in his statement.

Thanks to the Committee of Five of The Second Continental Congress for finalizing the document that we call The Declaration of Independence:

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia

John Adams of Massachusetts

Roger Sherman of Connecticut

Robert Livingston of New York

Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania

There were 56 signers.

July 4th, also known as Independence Day, is the day we celebrate our decision to be free from outside dictators. A day we declared our separation from England and her control. A day we celebrate the birth of a new nation, The United States of America. 

Preamble to The Declaration Of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

If you have never read the Declaration of Independence maybe you should. I reread it to do this post and couldn't help but compare some of it to today.  Interesting correlation. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

As we celebrate our freedom and liberty let's be safe and remember the price that has been paid to preserve this. 



“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Jefferson

“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.” Adams

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Franklin

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 1954 version

Elaine

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Five
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm