Do You Celebrate the Second of July, the Fourth of July, the Second of August or Independence Day?

I will no longer celebrate the 4th of July for reasons explained below.

Some background on the 4th of July:

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain.^[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams’s prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

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Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

I will no longer celebrate an arbitrary date for our independence. I will not celebrate a “holiday” dedicated to fireworks and hot dogs. At this point in time, patriots must celebrate our Independence Day as it was intended in the DOI.

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; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.

Our independence from England was declared “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence”. The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred Honor. For a date? Or for Independence? This may be an insubstantial argument to some readers. But to me, this is the same as whether I say “Merry Christmas” or the politically correct “Happy Holidays”. Do you celebrate the 4th of July with a hot dog? Or do you read the Declaration of Independence and reflect on the sacrifices made by our forefathers to give us freedom? If you celebrate our Independence Day, you also are required to reflect on how you will preserve it for our children.

This is not a rhetorical question: comments are open.

David DeGerolamo

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