July 4th is America’s birthday and, since 1776, it has been a time of celebration for our country’s independence. As we mark this special day with fireworks, parades and barbecues all across the nation, let us take a moment to reflect on the beauty of being an American citizen: freedom to speak your mind; liberty to pursue life dreams without persecution; and opportunity to make meaningful change in the lives of others. Our founding fathers had a vision forged by fire that drew millions from around the world in search of these ideals — true patriots who wanted nothing more than what was promised in our first set of laws: equality for all people. On this anniversary of Independence Day, join us as we come together with pride and purpose for our beloved United States! I hope it is a time of remembrance, recognition, celebration … and hope.
America’s Birth
As you well know, July 4th is the birth of our American independence, even though John Adams believed July 2nd (when the Continental Congress entered a near-unanimous vote in favor of a resolution for independence) was actually the correct date to celebrate our new nation. But two intense, daring and exciting days later, the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted, and America, in some respects, officially had its birth certificate!
With that distinct beginning, the Founding Fathers set forth some pretty high standards for America, including ensuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all! And if that wasn’t enough, they also set forth to guarantee certain fundamental rights — these included freedom of speech and religion, the right to bear arms, and the right to a fair trial — against infringement by the federal government.
Growth of Independence
Of course, just like with any growing nation (or like any growing individual for that matter), America has definitely been through a lot in these last 247 years. But two centuries is still a relatively young age when you compare us to other nations. Perhaps you could say we’ve made it past the newborn stages and the terrible toddler years. And we’ve survived the awkward pre-teens and maybe now we’re figuring our way through those challenging, confusing and sometimes rebellious teens.
No matter how you look at it, we are a pretty darn amazing country of fighters and dreamers. We may all be very different in our backgrounds, our talents and our goals, but we all are very similar in our enjoyment of some very unique liberties and freedoms. I just hope America as a country keeps rooting for success and keeps looking to the future for opportunities, for growth and for improvement. But equally as important, I hope that America and its people never forget our Independence Day — our birthday — and all the milestones we have made it through, from the mistakes and tragedies to the accomplishments and triumphs.
Let’s remember this Fourth of July as a chance to remember our history, recognize our heritage and celebrate our people. And as we hope for (and work toward) that “great, big, beautiful tomorrow,” may we never forget the paths that led us here.
So happy birthday to us all! Happy birthday, dear America. And many, many more!
