May America Never Forget!

Good morning and welcome to July! As we head into one of my favorite holiday weekends let's take a look back at what was going on this time in history in 1776....

On this day, July 1st, the Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia to formally adopt Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. The vote was unanimous, with only New York abstaining.

The resolution was originally presented on June 7, but five colonies were not ready to declare independence. Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lee's Resolution until July 1st.

Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Jefferson, well-known as the best writer, was to be the primary author.  He presented his final draft to Congress for review on June 28, 1776.

On July 1, they resumed debate and still could not get New York on board. Congress thought it was critical that independence be unanimously proclaimed from all 13 colonies. They voted again on July 2 with the New York delegates still abstaining, unsure of how their constituents would wish them to vote.  New York finally came around with their approval two weeks later on July 19^th.

John Adams believed that July 2nd would be THE date that history would remember because of the significance of the 'separation from Great Britain' declaration.  It was the first declaration that really got the attention of the royals.  However, Adams missed it by two days and July 4^th became the date that went down in history once Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was adopted.

The declaration was not actually signed by the 56 signers until August 2nd.  And the American War for Independence would last for five more years.  Yet to come were the Patriot triumphs at Saratoga, the bitter winter at Valley Forge, the intervention of the French and the final victory at Yorktown in 1781.  And finally, seven years after the declaration of independence was approved, in 1783 the 'Treaty of Paris' was signed formally declaring that the United States was a free and independent nation.

So, fire up the grill this 4^th of July, take in a ball game and watch some fireworks.  Let’s celebrate and enjoy our precious liberty that came at such a great price. But more importantly, let's remember the many brave people who fought for OUR freedom over 235 years ago and many men and women continue to do so today. God has blessed us richly in America!  And that my friends is our bottom of our news on this July 1, 2011.
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