The True Meaning of the 4th of July

It's a lot more than hot dogs, parades, and fireworks. Cities and towns all over America have their own unique ways of celebrating the Fourth of July. Families and friends get together and have picnics, parties, watch parades, listen to patriotic speeches, listen to patriotic music, and see displays of our flag. But the main reason we celebrate the Fourth of July...FREEDOM.

We are free to live our lives the way we choose. We are free to celebrate in the way we see fit. We are free to believe the way we want to. We are free to come and go. We are free to say what we want, without fear of repercussion. We are free to spend our money the way we want(with the exception of paying taxes!). Thank God for our freedoms. They are not to be taken lightly.

From the Declaration of Independence-

“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.”

I found this in the “Public Square”. I don't know who wrote it, but I thought it was worth sharing.

"The Real Meaning of the 4th of July"
The Public Square® - Wednesday, July 02, 2008

"The Declaration of Independence."

"It was signed on July 2nd, 1776. It was formally announced on July 4th. The words are the heartbeat of America. The true source of our Liberty. But they are so much more than words. They are ideals that men and women have laid down their lives to secure for themselves and their children.

All of this came home to me again, in a moment, when at my father's funeral the honor guard of the U.S. Air Force removed the flag from his coffin and carefully, silently folded that flag thirteen times. The sound of 'Taps' filled the air. The officer then slowly saluted and carefully handed the flag to my mother, thanking her, on behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation for my father's service in World War II.

In that moment, I saw the Declaration of Independence all over again.
A nation worth fighting for. A nation worth dying for. A nation worth living for. Millions of Americans, dead and alive, have made the sacrifice of serving on behalf of that wondrous document which so clearly states:

"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..."

The Declaration remains the heartbeat of America.
If it's been a while since you've read it, take a few moments to read the reason for all the celebration."


Happy 4th of July!