Wednesday, July 4, 2018
While other countries may have similar celebrations, we have several national holidays that are specific to the United States:
- Martin Luther King Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Mother’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Father’s Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
This week, of course, I’m focusing on the Fourth of July in the United States.
The separatists started fighting the British in 1775. In July 2, 1776 our second Contentinental Congress officially decided to declare our independence from Great Britain. The official document, our Declaration of Independence, was signed on July 4, 1776 and publicly read for the first time on July 8. Delegates began to sign it on August 2 that same year.
Interestingly enough, July 4 did not become a federal holiday until 1870 and even then it was an unpaid day off. It wasn’t until 1941 that our Independence Day became a paid holiday.
All across our country today, people will wake up to find countless American flags lining their city streets. We will have parades and picnics and baseball games. And fireworks will light up the skies.
We must always remember the brave patriots who would not allow themselves to be pushed around by a monarch — who fought valiantly for our freedom. It is because of their grit and determination that our nation was born. I thank God for them.
Happy Birthday, America!
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