Independence Day not on July 4?

Monday was the 4th of July, the anniversary of The United States Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776 and this year marks the 246th anniversary. 

Did you ever stop and think about the first 4th of July celebration? Well, if John Adams would have had his way, it would not have been on the fourth. You see, he wrote a letter to his wife telling her that America would celebrate their Independence Day on July 2. 

Now Congress did adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776, but it was only signed by Charles Thompson, the Secretary of Congress and the presiding officer, John Hancock. Two days later, this document was approved and ordered to be printed and distributed to states and military officers. The other signatures came later. You may think July 4,1776 woud be filled with celebration, but this did not occur until weeks later. 

The Philadelphia Evening Post published this document on July 6 and it was publicly read in various locations and the first celebration of our 4th of July saw people shouting and firing muskets in the air. No one thought about commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence until July 3, So the first organized elaborate celebration of independence occurred the following day: July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia. 

Since 1777, the tradition of celebrating America’s independence on July 4 has continued. Included in the Declaration of Independence is a statement often quoted today, “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.”

My Ol’ Daddy was a patriot and he was known to say, “I’m mighty proud of them ol’ boys that faced up to the tyrant an’ helped us become a free nation!”  

Independence                                                                                                                                                        

A feller can take just so much,

An’ then he cuts ‘em loose,

Not always with a delicate touch,

When he tires of the abuse.

An’ so it was in pilgrim days,

When they sailed for distant shore,

Seeking freedom, God to praise,

Kneel to tyrant no more.

A new life in this strange new land,

Was what they each one sought,

To stand tall and make a hand,

Just like a feller ought.

They say freedom comes with a price,

An’ each must stand their ground,

An’ often you’re asked to sacrifice,

If victory is to abound.

These new Americans had the grit,

Their destiny in tow,

They were brave and strong, they would not quit,

They stood up to their foe.

They set the course for all of us,

With wisdom and common sense,

Tho there were some that chose to fuss,

But you just can’t straddle the fence. 

Leaders gathered under some duress,

They had a plan, decisions to weigh,

They were the Continental Congress,

They declared Independence  Day!

And then they wrote the document,

That America  holds  sacred still,

A roadmap for life, was its intent,

 And thus, our destiny  fulfill.

They knew that battles would be fought,

Yet our  people would understand,  

The wisdom of our God was sought,

To draw a pathway for our land.

 This strength and wisdom set our path,

To stand for life and liberty,

We weathered  the tyrants wrath,

And  made America free.

So, as we gather to celebrate,

While Old Glory proudly waves,

We say a prayer and meditate,

O’er  ancestral patriot graves.

 And, fellow traveler, by my side,

As we traverse this revered sod,

 The tyrants yoke we’ll not abide,

An’ for that, we should  thank our God! 

© Ol’ Jim Cathey

Hope you had a happy 4th of July Celebration

God Bless you and God Bless America!