CHICAGO, IL - Today
is a celebration, a birthday; 242 years ago our founding fathers
declared our independence from England and HRH
King George III.
They, the 56 signers, decided they had enough of George III and his
tyrannical rule.
Signing
that document essentially put a target on the backs of the signers
and their families. It placed their homes, businesses, lives and any
wealth they had in jeopardy. Some of them did pay the ultimate price;
others lost family members and property; it was much like our present
day service members who essentially write a blank check to our
country while fighting for our freedom and our way of life.
While
years of violence preceded the Declaration
of Independence,
the American Revolutionary War actually began in April of 1775 and
lasted a total of eight years ending in 1783 when the British finally
surrendered.
Within
those eight years of bloody fighting and during the second
continental congress, The Flag Resolution of 1777 was passed adopting
our first flag, a symbol of our new country. A flag with 13 stripes
of alternating red and white and a blue field in the upper left
corner with 13 stars in a circle symbolizing the 13 original American
colonies.
A
following Congress proposed the Bill
Of Rights to
accompany the constitution forming a Constitutional Republic. It
appeased concerns of voting members to make sure the states had the
ability to govern within themselves.
In
a Constitutional Republic, a constitution or charter of rights
protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the
government even if it has been elected by a majority of voters.
By
May of 1790, the blueprint that would make up our country was
ratified and adopted. As a side note, only six signers of the
Declaration of Independence signed the U.S. Constitution as the other
50 declaration signers were not available or were lost in the war.
These
documents and their meaning have held value all these 242 years.
While there have been attacks on our Constitution and
Bill of Rights, our founding fathers plan has stood the test of time
and has protected us from outside forces.
So
as we spend our 4th of July cooking out, traveling, frolicking at the
beach or enjoying festivals and watching fireworks displays. Do not
forget how and why we celebrate this day.
Remember
those that gave all for the freedom we have. Remember
those that
continue to serve while we take time for our jobs and regular lives
to celebrate this birthday. Remember those that have served and paid
the ultimate price. We owe them all!
If
you would like a refresher course on the Declaration of Independence
while being entertained, rent or buy the
movie “1776”.
I recommend the restored director's cut. This movie covers the major
points of that historical time period with humor and music.
