Nebraskaland Magazine
I suspect for many folks, with the way the calendar lies this year, we are on the eve of an extended weekend in celebration of Independence Day. At this moment I cannot tell you for sure what our family will be doing, when we will be where, but I can assure you we will have a great time. The “4th of July” is hands down one of our most favorite holidays! We love fireworks, and you can guarantee there will be lots of that!
Some years we pull out some heavier “artillery” to listen to even louder booms:
No less than John Adams would approve!
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not. (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).
We will feast on good food, laugh, enjoy each other’s company, tell stories, and I promise, sneak away to do a little fishing too!
Hope you get to do the same! Happy Independence Day! Is this a great country or what?!
