It’s that time of year: fire up the grill for some good old-fashioned hamburgers and hot dogs! Serve ‘em up with some baked beans and potato salad, sweet tea and lemonade. Top off the meal with some homemade ice cream and watermelon. Bring on the sunshine and swimming, the baseball and family fun, the parades and fireworks displays. It’s time to celebrate! Happy 4th of July!!
Most Americans know this holiday is set aside to celebrate our independence as a nation. This holiday commemorates the day the thirteen original colonies were declared separate from Great Britain in 1776.
But did you know that legal separation technically occurred 239 years ago today--on July 2nd? The Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution declaring our independence from Great Britain on that day. July 4, 1776 was the day that Congress approved the wording of 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…”
July 4, 1776 is the date shown on the highly publicized Declaration of Independence; hence, the reason July 4th is celebrated as Independence Day rather than July 2nd--the “technical” day of independence.
I honestly think this means we should celebrate BOTH days… ☺ More food and fireworks, please!
As you enjoy your Life and Liberty this 4th of July weekend, what pursuits of Happiness will you commemorate the day with?
Turrentine Insurance Agency will be celebrating the holiday with their families on Friday, July 3, 2015.
Tell us: how will YOU be celebrating the 4th of July? Or the 2nd of July? Or BOTH? ☺