July 4th
Each year across the nation we gather with family, friends and co-workers to celebrate the birth of our nation. The birth of our nation was fought for many years, but began when the Founding Fathers signed their name to the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776.
John Adams, our 2nd President of the United States wrote his wife Abigail, “It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
Since 1777, we have celebrated with fireworks.
Our Heritage
At the signing of the Declaration of Independence they pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and Sacred Honor to see a new country birthed in liberty and freedom. They understood that liberty and freedom is not instituted by governments but by the Laws of Nature of Nature’s God.
Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. IT must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
With that in mind it is good to read the Declaration and read it to our children. Critical to the future destiny to our nation is knowing our historical documents, understanding where our rights and freedoms come from and how we arrived to become citizens of this great country. As you gather with family, and friends celebrating in your own way, take a few minutes to reflect on why we celebrate.
I started a tradition when my kids were little of making a Flag Cake because kids associate birthdays with cakes. We continue it even today and my guess it is one tradition they will pass along to their children.
Freedom and Liberty
America is a city set on hill that has been the envy of nations that long to come here to experience and live in Liberty and Freedom and escape the bonds of tyranny. Even as the Statue of Liberty says,
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Lani Rosales
July 3, 2009 at 10:55 am
@missycaulk, thank you for this wonderful post. So many pop open a beer and kick back on this holiday without a second thought to how we got here, thank you for the reminder!
Teri Lussier
July 3, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Nice, Missy!
Our history is extraordinary to the history of the world. It’s a beautiful thing to remember the documents that forged that history and created our world.
Missy Caulk
July 3, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Thanks Lani, it is actually one of my favorite holidays.
Teri, it is we were the first to spread the word that our liberties don’t come from Kings and governments. Back in the day, that was unheard of.
Roberta Murphy
July 4, 2009 at 9:34 am
Missy:
Thank you.
I read this and so long to forward to my dad, a veteran of three wars. He died in April and always cherished this holiday.
Instead, I’ll send to his five grandsons.
Missy Caulk
July 4, 2009 at 10:17 am
Oh thanks Roberta, have a beautiful day, it is my favorite holiday’s too.
Joe Loomer
July 5, 2009 at 10:12 am
I confess to popping open more than one beer, and kicking back – but not before I got on FB and posted stories about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and their fates because I was inspired to do so by Lani and Missys’ posts.
After Christmas, the 4th is certainly my favorite holiday.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride