The date of July 4, 1776 is fixed in the minds of American citizens as the date for the founding of our Constitutional Republic. Americans date their birth as a nation to July 4, 1776 when representatives of the thirteen colonies met to unify in declaring independence from Great Britain. The representatives of those thirteen colonies affixed their names to the document we know as the Declaration of Independence. Well, lest my title confuse you, I heartily celebrate the Fourth of July as the day when brave Americans began the fight for freedom in our land.
But sometimes, I think we would do better to celebrate September 3 because on that date in 1783, the Colonies agreed to peace with the United Kingdom as Great Britain recognized American Independence in the Treaty of Paris.
Between the dates of July 4, 1776 and September 3, 1783 a great hostility took place between the Colonies and Crown-- a hostility called the American Revolution. During those years, 22,500 American soldiers were killed in action, 63,000 American soldiers died of disease, and 6,000 civilians were killed. Families turned against family, many lost their property and wealth due to support for the American Revolution as those who declared independence pledged lives, fortunes and sacred honor. Yet, against all odds, the rag-tag band of Americans won their independence against the greatest empire in the world, Great Britain. As a side note, Britain is now our nation's best friend and has been for generations. The British citizens I know all love America, and generally respect the cause of American independence.
This week, I was asked who I considered the greatest American President and I answered George Washington. Note with me some quotes of President
Washington concerning the fight for American Independence: The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. George Washington's letter of August 20, 1778 to Brig. General Thomas Nelson
Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the council of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States.. ...Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency" From President George Washington's Inaugural Address, April 30th, 1789, addressed to both Houses of Congress.My own great-great-great-great-great Grandfather John Page of South Carolina fought in the South Carolina militia in the cause for American independence. On Grandpa Page's record I was able to obtain membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. My heart is filled with appreciation to know that the blood of a genuine American patriot flows in my veins. I am thankful for those, like my father and brother, who have defended our country in the military.
So, have a grand celebration on July 4, but I hope you will also remember September 3.
5 comments:
I love the 4th of July. I sometimes wonder if the same revolutionary spirit that birthed this nation is still alive somewhere in the collective psyche of modern US society...or has longing for freedom something we read about in history books and no longer relate to?
I'm always struck at young we are as a nation...will we continue to be a beacon of freedom, or will we eventually allow a powerful centralized government take us back to where we came from?
I pray that we do not forget, and we never lose that spirit that forged a new nation that stands for concepts foreign at the time: libery, equality, justice.
God Bless the USA!
Among my American heroes are
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Judge Frank Johnson
Bruce Springsteen
George Truett
John Lewis
JFK's Sec State, Dean ____
Marshall Frady
Wayne Whiteside
James Columbus Jordan
Abraham Lincoln
Stewart Newman
Maragaret Chadwick
Jennifer Cortina
Octavio, also nominated by the VBS of Liberty Baptist Church, Collinsville, Alabama
Pearl, the slave girl in Doctorow's Novel: The March
And the Preacher in the upcoming novel, Serena, by Baptist Shaped Ron Rash.
And the fellow on the road from Selma to Montgomery in 65 who said: "We Won when we started Walking."
Wow Fox! That list of heroes explains a lot about you...
I think Abraham Lincoln is one of Dr. Killian's favorites also...
You probably should get him to read a book about Lincoln...
Brother John,
I know that you were a Ron Paul supporter, wholeheartedly so. I, as a Huckabee supporter, have misgivings about McCain. However, I seem to have found an answer perhaps. That would be in the person of Gov Sarah Palin of Alaska. I think she might be the type conservative female that can put more energy into the campaign than we could imagine. She'd be in line to be President in 4 years - could she be America's Maggie Thatcher and be the first woman President. What do you think?
DW in Northport
Rev. Killian raises an interesting question. Certain of the former colonies had already declared independence from Great Britain before July 4, 1776. North Carolina had the year previous; South Carolina on March 15, 1776, and Virginia two months later.
I would clarify only a couple points. First: "I heartily celebrate the Fourth of July as the day when brave Americans began the fight for freedom in our land."
Actually, the fighting had already commenced a year before--and herein lies the most important significance of the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington to be Commander-in-Chief of the rag-tag band of continentals then on the field, which appointment was accepted on June 16, 1776.
Yet even as General Washington headed to New England to take command, he faced a serious dilemma. There was no clear-cut objective to be obtained, other than to get His Majesty's troops to back off. In the back of his mind must have lurked some dreadful possibilities.
Supposing some persuasive delegate to the Congress stepped and said, "Gentlemen, perhaps we have been rather impetuous in taking up arms against the greatest military power in the world. We could all find ourselves hanging from the nearest lamp posts for what is clearly treason against the Realm. Perhaps we should forget this whole thing, pack up and go home, and place ourselves at the mercy of our King and Sovereign."
Where would this have left General Washington?--Out in field with an army in active hostilities against the King's troops! backed by no joint congress of the colonies! There would he stand, the most conspicuous of traitors! And when someone's head must needs roll to set an example over this treasonous uprising, whose would have been the most likely to serve up?
When General Washington received word that the colonies had joined in a unanimous declaration--that they were all in it now, do or die, to the end, he must have wiped beads of sweat from his brow!
I concur with Rev. Killian that the day of acceptance of the Treaty of Paris should certainly be celebrated--in particular to emphasize one important point: that Great Britain recognized the several States individually (by name) as "free, sovereign and independent states."
However I may suggest also October 19, the day that Gen. Lord Cornwallis actually surrendered to Gen. Washington, as it was on this day that the fighting ceased.
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