Independence Declared

On July 2, 1776, all thirteen colonies voted to declare independence. Yet, we celebrate today, July 4th, the day the actual Declaration of Independence was approved by the 56 representatives of the 13 states.

On July 3rd John Adams wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail, predicting July 2nd would be a great  American holiday. Adams thought the vote for independence would be commemorated; he did not foresee that Americans, including himself, would instead celebrate Independence Day on the date that the announcement of the act was finalized. It was nearly a week later, on July 8th, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time and the great bell was said to have rang out at Independence Hall.

"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."

These words are known throughout the world and have fostered the dreams of millions. But, they are not the beginning of our treasured Declaration of Independence. They are the beginning of the second paragraph. The first paragraph simply but eloquently states what follows are the reasons for such a declaration.

It was 11 years later the Constitution was penned and another year, in 1788, when it was ratified and became the law of the land replacing the Articles of Confederation.

The Declaration of Independence records for the first time that our country was referred to as the United States of America.

Americans around the world will remind the world of this historic day. Flags will be flown and speeches made. From the pageantry in our nation's capital and Philadelphia to the communities of ex-patriots found around the globe and in the battle torn regions of Iraq and Afghanistan celebrations will occur.

The 4th of July is more than fireworks and bar-b-ques, the flag of this great nation will fly and continue to foster the dreams of peoples everywhere and serve as a reminder freedom is only obtained when a people join together for the common good with sacrifices and courage to secure this precious, and sometimes elusive, state.