See listing of Recent and Most Popular articles on the Home Page

Senior Moments

Category: Holidays / Topics: History Holidays July 4 (U.S. Independence Day)

July the Fourth

by Dan Seagren

Posted: July 4, 2010

We seniors have amassed quite a few 4ths...let's make it really memorable for the next generations…

In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia, PA to form the First Continental Congress. In April, 1775, King George of England's troops advanced on Concord prompting Paul Revere's midnight ride to sound the alarm which set off the American Revolution.

By May, 1776, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress to try to work out their differences. By June their efforts were hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal Declaration of Independence.

On July 4, 1776, the colonies voted, 9 in favor. John Hancock, the Congress President, supposedly signed his name with a great flourish so King George could read it without spectacles. The task was finished in August but the 4th of July as been accepted as the official anniversary date. By the early 1800s, parades, picnics and fireworks were established as a sign of the American independence with appropriate fanfare.

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, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, must dictate.

It took a month or more to create this declaration. Committees can be notoriously clumsy but not this one. The question arises, off and on, whether or not we hold these truths to be self-evident: endowed by their Creator, certain unalienable rights, the consent of the governed . . . If changes are to be made, use prudence.

The Declaration of Independence is a masterpiece, worthy of its sweat, blood and tears. It continues to evoke our admiration as we have celebrated our freedom for 234 years. Even if fireworks are banned, there is no restriction on parades, tubas, drums and piccolos and picnics and even a prayer of thanks.

We seniors have amassed quite a few 4ths, some more memorable than others. Let's Celebrate the Fourth and make it really memorable for the next generations.



Search all articles by Dan Seagren

Dan Seagren is an active retiree whose writings reflect his life as a Pastor, author of several books, and service as a Chaplain in a Covenant Retirement Community.

E-mail the author (su.nergaesnad@brabnad*) Author's website (personal or primary**)

* For web-based email, you may need to copy and paste the address yourself.

** opens in a new tab or window. Close it to return here.


Posted: July 4, 2010   Accessed 116 times

Go to the list of most recent Senior Moments Articles
Search Senior Moments (You can expand the search to the entire site)
Go to the list of Most Recent and Most Popular Articles across the site (Home Page)