Let Freedom Reign

 I, like most others in this country, celebrated the Forth-of-July this year. But why?

For many, it was justification to throw another beer-and-barbecue party. Others felt a tinge of patriotism watching the fireworks while listening to traditional music. A few may have thought about our country’s struggle to shuck the shackles and yoke of British rule.

A few of us might have reflected on this day in1776 that the people of the thirteen American colonies said enough and officially declared our independence from England. Fewer still may have known the real story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

According to ConstitutionFacts.com, the official declaration was made on the second of July1976, not the forth. The actual signing wouldn’t take place until August 2 of that year.

So why do we celebrate on the fourth? Within a decade after the event, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that the Declaration had been signed by Congress on July 4, 1776. Indeed the signed copy of the Declaration is dated July 4, 1776.

In actuality, it was July 1, 1776, that the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and on the following day, July 2, only twelve of the thirteen colonies voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s motion for independence. That remaining colony, New York, didn’t officially give their support until July 9 because their home assembly hadn’t yet authorized them to vote in favor of independence.

After that, things dragged out until August 2 when eventually all colonies finally signed the document. But wait! Even then, delegates Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton didn’t sign until an even later date. Two other delegates, John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston, never signed at all.

So why is this bit of trivia even important? Or in the immortal words of Hillary Clinton, “why at this point does it matter?”

I guess it really doesn’t. By now, July 4 is the accepted date of our Declaration of Independence from British rule. To be sure, England no longer has any claim on our country. We have formed a constitution and even added 37 more stars to our flag. In the ensuing 238 years, our nation has withstood all efforts at disintegration and even a few efforts to capture it.

For many other countries, we are the model to emulate. Others look to us for protection from their enemies. Our productivity and economy has been the envy of the world.

As for the nitpickers, I’m more than willing to throw another burger on the barbecue, have another beer, salute our flag, and watch fireworks on July 2, August 2, or any other day you would like to celebrate America.

The United States of America is, and will always be, “the land of the free and the home of the brave” – “one nation under God.” Happy birthday America; may “Old Glory” forever fly!