INDEPENDENCE DAY, The 4TH OF JULY.
I generally do not write articles about religion or politics but INDEPENDENCE DAY, the 4th of July IS of NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
We Americans have great reason to acknowledge the Fourth of July as a day back in 1776 as the day our 13 original colonies declared our INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERATION from the British hierarchy at that time.
July 4, 1776 was the day WE, as a new country, adopted “The Declaration of Independence.” This federal holiday is the most important of all our holidays.
Perhaps many of us “forget” the real reason why we celebrate “the 4th.” Yes, it has become a great weekend as we celebrate with blazing bright and colorful fireworks; attend family reunions, barbecues, picnics, and go see parades, baseball games, etc. The first week of July is typically one of the busiest United States travel periods as many people use it as a three-day holiday weekend.
It’s also great to hear and sing the many wonderful patriotic songs suc h as “The Star-Spangled Banner”; “God Bless America”; “America the Beautiful”; “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”; “This Land Is Your Land”; “Stars and Stripes Forever.” I always remember the night in 1938 when Kate Smith first sang “God Bless America” on the radio Everyone with national pride in our wonderful AMERICA, responds happily when we hear any of these great patriotic songs.
We all have many things to be thankful for to varying degrees, but it should be 100% if and when we hear and see the horrendous happenings in so many other countries; and the crimes and sufferings of so many of our people here in America.
Unfortunately, I hesitate to refer to “America” as the “United States of America” but the word, UNITED changes to UNTIED with the reversal of ONE letter in the word. Oh, how great it would be if we could and would UNITE again into THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Our military armed forces and our hard-working populace has pulled our country through many wars and severe economic times, and for this valiant effort we should be very proud and thankful.
Let’s especially remember how GREAT our country is. We must acknowledge so many foreign people of all ages and ethnicities struggle through so many difficult situations to cross our borders. They seek to find a happier life in our UNITED STATES of AMERICA. YES, MY PARENTS were immigrants when they came to America in 1914.
In whatever way you work or celebrate the FOURTH OF JULY, PLEASE remember this date of our INDEPENENCE AND FREEDOM. HAPPY 4TH !!
Bill Thomas is a Veteran of World War II, and Past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 404, and American Legion Post 857. Contact Bill AT VVBTHOMASVETS@GMAIL.COM.
