My View 7.6.08

Like every July 4th, Americans celebrated with family gatherings, cookouts, fireworks and other festivities across the United States.

In the midst of all the food and fun, very few of us took the time to remember what it is that we Americans have to celebrate on Independence Day.

I will admit that I am guilty of this as well. We have so much to be grateful for, but yet we tend to take things for granted on a daily basis, not just on July 4th.

We are indebted to our forefathers. It’s because of their actions that we live in such a great nation today. They sacrificed their very being to earn the rights that we as a nation should strive to live by.

As I was researching the information for this column, I realized that there was so much history on the founding of our nation that I didn’t know or just don’t remember.

While I am sure that I was taught this in school, like many, I have forgotten most of the important details.

In my defense, and trying not to broadcast my age, let’s just say that it was a long time ago. It’s not the kind of information that many, like myself, would research unless you really had to.

I think everyone needs to take a little time out of their busy schedules to refresh their memory on our founding history. I found it to be quite interesting.

The Declaration of Independence, boldly proclaims: “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.”

For those of you who don’t remember this from school, but would like to know the how’s and why’s of Independence Day I will briefly tell you.

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

From July 8, 1776, until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it.

The next year, in Philadelphia, bells rang and ships fired guns, candles and firecrackers were lit. But the Revolutionary War dragged on until 1783 and in that year, Independence Day was made an official holiday.

In 1941, Congress finally declared the 4th of July a federal holiday.