A Day to Celebrate Independence

On this 229th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopting the Declaration of Independence, let us give pause from the hot dogs and hamburgers to reflect on the real reason for the celebration...

We celebrate the memory of those who courageously chose to defy the tyranny of an empire at great personal risk. Many of the signers did suffer loss: loss of life, loss of loved ones, loss of property and wealth. The outcome was far from certain and on more than one occasion, nearly ended in failure.

And on more than one occasion, when defeat seemed imminent, the grace of Almighty God was extended to those who put their trust in Him. A fog that rolled in to permit a concealed retreat. An unwise decision by the British. In the end God rewarded those who chose to fight for freedom: freedom to worship, freedom to assemble peacefully, freedom to speak without fear, freedom from taxation without representation, freedom to bear arms.

In the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson, et al....

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States...

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury...

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States...

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Let us never forget their courage, their sacrifice, or their vision.