4th of July

The 4^th of July …. We all love it.

It’s friends and family. Fireworks and fantasies. A day off from work where we can sit back and breathe a collective sigh because, after all, we are American … and we are free.

We cheer our troops, and salute our veterans. We fly our flags and thank our Mothers and Fathers, and their Mothers and Fathers, and their Mothers and Fathers before them. We are closer as a nation, if just for a day, because, we are Americans, and for the past 200 years we have defied all odds in spite of our terrible faults.

We’ve earned it. We deserve it.

So we celebrate … every year …. We fire up the grills, and bust out the boats and beer and banter and celebrate our beautiful bounty …….. on the date the Declaration of Independence was written. On the day our destiny was written in ink .. and eventually … in blood.

However, there is more to July 4^th than most people know.

July 4^th 1754. Col George Washington of Virginia, sent by Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie, to try and talk the French out of leaving the Ohio Country and the Forks of the Ohio (modern day Pittsburgh), marches home with his defeated army to Virginia after losing what is, in essence, the first battle of the French and Indian War (or 7 year war as it was known in Europe) on the day prior, July 3, 1754.

The financial and human toll of the French/Indian war directly affected the events that led to the eventual uprising by the British subjects. Wanting to be treated as equal subjects to the crown, they were castigated and looked down upon by the country and King they pled and bled loyalty to.

Which leads us to our 2^nd July 4^th. The one you know best.

July 4^th 1776. I could write a book about this one but you all pretty much know what happened here. Declaration of independence. Then the war for independence which ended on October 19^th, 1781.

In case you haven’t watched the news recently ….. We won!

Let’s jump ahead 87 years to the day ….. if I may ……

July 4^th 1863. Col Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, marches his decimated troops south after losing the Battle of Gettysburg. That loss turned the tides of the war for the Army of the Potomac, which resulted in Lee surrendering his Army of Northern Virginia on April 9^th, 1865.

The Civil War, as you know, correct the injustice of slavery, which the Founding Fathers knew needed fixed, but could not fix during their time in history. So they wrote our documents in a way that we could right that wrong.

So you see kids ….. July 4^th has more than just one significant day in the annuals of our country and …….

What’s that?

Oh … sorry ... almost forgot.

Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on …… none other than ….

July 4^th, 1826. It is reported John Adam’s last words were “Jefferson survives” when in fact, Thomas Jefferson died earlier that day.

50 years might I add …. to the year….. that The Declaration of independence was written and read to a rag tag band of dedicated dissidents who believed that freedom wasn’t just a crazy idea that was exclusive to the ruling class. That it was their God given right over man to govern themselves in a “just and reasonable fashion.”

July 4^th …… not just for 1776.

Take 5 minutes to ponder this re-appearing date in our history …. As you celebrate ….

P.S. If I accidentally send this to any Canadians … sorry …… You’re the neighbor that hates us because we’re loud and obnoxious, but if\when the bullies come ….. we got your back yo …..

DVD,

born July 4^th 1967

Just kidding …..