"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."
On July 2nd, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia put forth the resolution in Congress to attain American independence. Originally, John Adams believed that that would be the day we celebrated in the future, but today we celebrate Independence Day every Fourth of July. Today we commemorate the Declaration of Independence and American liberty.
Personally, I love this holiday. I am proud to be an American, I believe in the ideals that shaped her. I believe it to be an inspired nation, founded by flawed and human men who nonetheless sought to create a better place than had yet to be found on the earth.
Today, I honor those great men and what they did to shape the world. Let us only endeavor to live up to the grandiose ideals they set forward.
"[Independence Day] will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." -John Adams