I remember one Fourth of July when I sat on the curb of a busy street in Norfolk, Nebraska. The grown ups were sitting in lawn chairs beneath the elm trees behind me. The women had dug into their purses to find anything that might suffice as a fan. The men were discussing that 107 degrees might just be the hottest 4th of July yet. Many of the folks were grumbling; wondering why they had left their comfortable homes to sit out in the beastly heat with not a cloud in the sky. But, it wasn’t long before band music could be heard down the street and people became less focused on the heat. Horses with bright red, white, and blue neck banners paraded in front of us. One of the more mellow horses led the pack as the Stars and Stripes waved gently above his head. Not one person on the sidelines would have considered not standing with their hand over their heart. I watched my great grandparents and others equally as feeble, struggle to right themselves upward from the flimsy chairs – but right themselves they did. It was a secure and satisfying feeling to look up and down the street and to feel the unity portrayed.
This July 4th marks the 241st anniversary of Independence Day. In 1776 the thirteen colonies declared themselves in writing – a new nation and no longer under British authority.
If you are the type of person that enjoys a bit of trivia you might be aware that the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain did not happen on July 4th, but on July 2nd, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. After the decision was make, a statement explaining the decision needed to be written. “The Declaration of Independence” was prepared by a committee of five – largely written by Thomas Jefferson. After some debate about wording and then some revision, Congress approved the document on July 4th. (As a side note, I can’t help marveling at how fast Congress acted in 1776 – in 2 days they had something major agreed upon and accomplished!)
You may wonder why Americans celebrate with the types of festivities we do on the 4th of July. Why is it that this day is celebrated with parades, baseball games, bonfires, picnics, and fireworks? We can attribute these merry making activities to John Adams – one of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. The night before he signed his name he wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail: This will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
More than likely, anyone reading this blog has participated in a 4th of July celebration of those kind mentioned. However, there may be some you and I have not participated in. I have not attended a mock funeral for King George III as some colonists did to symbolize the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty. Or how about sitting around a bonfire consisting of towering barrels forty tiers high? These kind of pyramids were common in the 19th and 20th century as New England towns competed to build the tallest one. The highest “barrel pyramid” is recorded to have been built on Gallows Hill in Salem Massachusetts – the famous site of the execution of thirteen women and six men for witchcraft in 1692.
Another thing some trivia enthusiasts might already know in relation to the Fourth of July, is that three of our presidents have died on this memorable date. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom signed the Declaration of Independence, died within hours of each other on July 4th, 1826. James Monroe followed suit in 1831.
Whether we celebrate this upcoming holiday by cheering on the sidelines of a parade, watching the night sky light up with brilliant fireworks, or hosting a simple barbecue in our backyard, let us remember the day of deliverance John Adams spoke about and give thanks for our independence and the freedoms we enjoy.
Until next month – keep on readin’ and I’ll keep on writin’.
Cathy Harper
Good reading.