“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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Fourth of July. A wonderful holiday. Here are a few facts about it and why we celebrate it:
During the course of the American Revolution a second Continental Congress was formed. It is this group that adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. After the first draft was written by Thomas Jefferson, it was revised by Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson before it was sent to Congress for approval. All thirteen colonies stood behind the Declaration of Independence and adopted it in full on July 4, 1776.
This is where the Fourth of July holiday comes in. The Fourth of July is known as Independence Day because that is the day that the Second Continental Congress adopted the full and formal Declaration of Independence. Even though we had declared that we were independent before this, the American Revolution was still being fought, which meant that we were still not independent. Regardless of the ongoing war the following year, people in Philadelphia celebrated a muted Fourth of July.
While celebrations on July 4th during the American Revolution were modest, after the war ended in 1783 the Fourth of July became a holiday in many places. The celebrations included speeches, military events, parades, and fireworks. To this day the Fourth of July is the most celebrated patriotic holiday in the United States.
Now, I love fireworks! I also love the freedoms we have in this country. I still lay my hand over my heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance when it is spoken in a group. I deeply appreciate the sacrifice so many have gone through over the years to protect our freedom and the freedom of others. So my list of grateful things today has to do with us celebrating our freedom and our country on the Fourth of July.
1. I am grateful for the men who drafted the Declaration of Independence of the United States.
2. I am grateful that the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. The quote in the opening of this post is a famous partial quote from the document.
3. I am grateful for the men and women like my grandfather who defended our country and others during the wars that have been fought. My grandfather was in the Army, and fought in World War 1. He often spoke of the places he saw and the people he knew from the war. He was like many soldiers in that it was hard for him to talk about the actual war. But he loved the men in his unit, and the many different people he met during this time. He said being away from home was very, very hard for him but his sacrifice was worth it in the end. He loved our country too.
4. I am grateful that the Constitution of the United States was written and accepted.
5. I am grateful for the Bill of Rights we have as well. The first amendments to the Constitution called the Bill of Rights were made in September 25, 1789. Amendments continue to be considered and written today. Click here for a short list of the first 10 amendments.
6. I am grateful for the many freedoms this country offers to all of it’s citizens, including me. Freedom of speech, which is part of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights allows me to write what I want in this blog. I appreciate that for sure! Too often we can take our freedom for granted. I had friends in Nigeria that lost their lives because they wanted to worship God. They did not have the freedom to choose their religion. I’m thankful the First Amendment also gives all of us the right to choose our religion as well as the freedom to talk freely about that or anything else.
7. I am grateful for freedom, period. The many documents that allow me to live free in this country have been disputed, fought over, fought against. But one thing remains: WE ARE FREE! It took a civil war from 1861 – 1865 and the efforts of people like Harriet Tubman to break slavery. Suffragettes fought for women to have the right to vote and run for office, and in 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. All I can say is I am grateful for these things.
8. I am grateful for our flag, and the many people who have contributed to it’s design. There is a very interesting timeline you can check out here that show the many design changes our flag has gone through and some of the details of the defense of our flag.
9. I am grateful for the many patriotic memorials we have in every city and state in our nation. From well known ones like the Vietnam War Memorial to the tiny little plaques that line our highways, I appreciate each and every one of them because they keep us reminded of the sacrifices of others.
10. I am grateful for fireworks celebrations! Don’t you just love the colors and the sounds? I do! The first official 4th was celebrated with them, and lots of us still use them today. Some states have passed laws against individuals buying and using them, but I still love the fact that we have shows available to enjoy them through. If you can’t get out to a show, there’s always the events on TV too to watch, and you usually can get the best seats at home!
Hoping you and your families have a wonderful, fun, happy, safe 4th of July! I’m grateful for each of my readers too, and don’t you forget it! 
Now where did I leave those shooting stars?
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Angela W Fitch
