The month of July is filled with many friend's birthdays, a couple that are special to me are Hilarie's and of course mine!  However, with that said the one that I celebrate with millions of others on this day is America's. 

July 4th is one of the most important holidays that we as Americans can celebrate.  234 years ago something very special happened on that day, "In Congress, July 4, 1776 ,The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America " came together as one country and declared their Independence from Great Britain, which was the most powerful country on earth at that time.  These brave citizens made a powerful decision that would change not only their lives but those generations that followed.   As they stood shoulder to shoulder "we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." throughout the land, in town squares, on the city corners and on the battlefields they all agreed to do together the impossible, militarily defeat the most powerful country on earth and then create a government for the people, by the people, something that had never been done before! "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".

Each 4th of July, I read the Declaration of Independence out loud, word for word as it was written.  Here is a link, http://www.ushistory.org/documents/declaration.htm  I urge you to take a few minutes and read it for yourself, it's simple but powerful document that tells us how and why we became a nation.  (I'm really impressed that each colony's representative personally signed it, there's no denying you didn't have any part of it after doing that!

I would hope that all our politicians, from the local, state and federal level would also take the time to read this document also and take to heart the sacrifices that were made both in blood and service so this country could be born.  This new government wasn't about political parties and or their personal agendas, it was about compromise and what was best for the citizens of this land and how working together something very magical could take place.  The Birth of a Nation!

Those very citizens put not only their farms, businesses and families at risk but also their very own lives… Ben Franklin said it best, ""We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately".

Well, as you know, they all did work together and many paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.  Many, many bloody years would pass but with a lot of help from our French Friends (3 Cheers for France!!!) the war would finally come to a close and the new nation could then get on with rebuilding what had been destroyed and create the Freedoms that we all enjoy today.

Each and every 4th of July the Citizens of this Great Nation are able celebrate this special day in their own way with friends and family.  I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe Holiday…(filled with lot's of hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob and other tasty food and maybe a cold beverage or 2 ; >), and enjoy all the festivities that your local towns and cities provide and that you cap it all off with a spectacular fireworks display!!!)

Happy Birthday, America!
kt