Independence Day Reflections

^{Independence Day Reflections}

by Bob Weithofer, Military Veterans Chapter President

Independence Day (the Fourth of July) celebrates the founding of our country. It celebrates the Signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress which occurred on July 4, 1776. The Congress had actually voted for independence two days prior but it took those two days to draft the actual Declaration. Of course, the signing didn’t make us a separate nation. It took the drafting and signing of the Constitution and the eight-year War of Independence, which cost over 30,000 American lives, to accomplish that.

Various local celebrations occurred starting in 1777 but it took until 1870 for the U.S. Congress to approve Independence Day as a Federal Holiday. So this year we are celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the official recognition of the importance of this day.

This is a day to celebrate everyone who has contributed to the founding and the on-going growth of our country. Of course, we first think of ALL VETERANS and our current service men and women; they fought to establish this country and continue to fight to defend it.  But, that is only the beginning of those to be celebrated. We are celebrating everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to making and sustaining the country we all enjoy. We, Chapter members, have all made a contribution by serving in the armed forces, but EVERY citizen has contributed in large or small ways. We should be celebrating all of them.

Once again, we are faced with a different celebration for this day than in the past. Most traditional celebrations of parades and firework displays have been canceled, but we still can and MUST celebrate the founding of this great country. Our celebrations may be smaller and involve only immediate friends and family, but the reason for the celebration is just as appropriate!

We are living through a challenging time, but our country is responding to the challenges and WILL come out the other side better. These times of change are some of the most important periods in our lives and will become history.  And if we read our history story, we will see the end results have always been that the citizens of this great country, and that WILL include us, have grown better.

Celebrate, Be Safe and Safe Travels wherever you are!