Our good country, the United States of America. We were once a leader of peace and goodwill. A beacon of hope for others. Now we have become a bit of a thug country. Sadly.
It wasn’t what our forefathers and mothers intended. Those good men and women who paved our early beginnings. But here are some things of interest about those days.
First of all, most of us know that not everyone signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. That good old famous image of all the delegates signing the Declaration together is pretty much a myth. Most signatures were added weeks later, with many delegates signing on August 2, 1776.
And how about the Liberty Bell? It didn’t ring on July 4th either. At least, there is no evidence. It seems that this popular story was developed decades later. Let Freedom Ring. Better late than never.
There were many people who worked hard for our country to gain independence. But Benjamin Franklin was the old man of the Revolution. He was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
And, this is old news for many of you readers out there. But the original capital was not Washington, D.C. Before the capital moved to Washington DC, the national government met in several cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Princeton.
Now, I’m not a drinker. But several of those old guys were. As such, a tavern played a major role in the formation of our government. Many revolutionary discussions took place in taverns. One of the most famous was Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, sometimes called the “Headquarters of the Revolution.”
Their good hearts were in this until the end. You see, three presidents died on Independence day. An extraordinary coincidence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration. Five years later, James Monroe also died on July 4.
So. A few good memories about the beginnings of our country.
May we never stop striving toward the best version of ourselves, both as individuals and as a nation. May liberty be guided by wisdom, justice by compassion, and freedom by integrity.
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“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered deeply, perhaps finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” — George Washington
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“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” — Confucius
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“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” — Thomas Jefferson
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