Independence Day

It is hard to believe that it was 235 years ago today that our nation's Continental Congress declared independence from England on July 4, 1776 when 55 congressmen signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  At the time, twelve of the thirteen original colonies approved the declaration, with the only exception - New York - deemed it unanimous a few days later.

What I find to be even more significant, a fact many Americans are not aware of, is the fact that two of those Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both died on the same day of July 4, 1820.  How ironic that two of our most famous American Presidents should die on a day celebrating our freedom.  I find it to be a fact worth remembering and cherishing as a part of our great American History and Heritage.  We are so fortunate to have had so many dedicated Americans back in 1776 willing to sacrifice their own lives to allow a nation of our own to be independent of any other sovereign powers so that we could all live with freedom, liberty, and justice for all.

We, as Americans, 235 years later, have an obligation to carry on that declaration, to prevent other nations or governments to come into our great country and strip us of the Pursuit of Happiness that we have struggled to attain.  We have been involved in too many foreign wars to allow ourselves to be defeated, especially at a time when we are still rebuilding from the terrorist attacks we so well remember from September 11, 2001.  We are a strong nation, one that is willing to sacrifice lives for freedom, in order to provide the same to our future generations.

We face a future of uncertainty in a world of wars and conflicts, but the people of the United States continue to stand as "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty, and Justice for All."

And that's the Way it is.