Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

As we gather with our families and friends to celebrate the 4th of July, let us remember with gratitude our servicemen and women who risk their lives every day to keep America out of harm's way so that we may continue to enjoy "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." May God protect them as they protect us, and bless them and their families for the daily sacrifices they make for us. And let us also remember the courage, diligence, wisdom, and foresight of our founding fathers who, over two centuries ago, penned the Declaration of Independence. "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 ..." The significant aspect of the Declaration of Independence is that it changed the American “rebellion” against Great Britain into a “revolution.” From April 19, 1775 until July 2, 1776, the war was being fought so the colonists could regain their rights as Englishmen that had been taken away by the British from 1763-1775. The "Founding Fathers" On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the resolution by Richard Henry Lee from Virginia that “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ....” This was truly a revolutionary statement. John Adams felt that July 2 would be the day that would be “solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with shows, games, sports, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this Continent to the other ....” July 4 is the day that was chosen as our “independence” day. That was the day that the Second Continental Congress approved but did not sign the document written by Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson History has had a lot to do with the sanctity of July 4. It was on that day that the news of the Louisiana Purchase arrived in Washington, Henry David Thoreau arrived at Walden Pond, and President Abraham Lincoln learned of the Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg. However, the one incredible event that happened to ordain July 4 as something significant were the deaths of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, only hours apart from each other.