As we celebrate this Fourth of July, may we be reminded to thank
the Continental Congress of Philadelphia for declaring our
independence from Great Britain.
Dear Editor,
As we celebrate this Fourth of July, may we be reminded to thank the Continental Congress of Philadelphia for declaring our independence from Great Britain. Additionally, we must pay tribute to the committee of the five architects of the Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson, the main writer, and very devoted collaborators John Adams, Roger Livingston, and yes, Benjamin Franklin.
The Continental Congress officially adopted the declaration at 2 p.m., on the 4th of July, 1776. The Declaration of Independence’s first public reading occurred on July 8, in Philadelphia, which infuriated the Penn family, who had governed the Pennsylvania Colony since 1681 for Britain.
Consequently, this public reading was as if the Colonies were doing the symbolic slapping of the Penn family across the face, with the empty glove. In addition, this slap was as a potential death sentence to all of those who had signed the Declaration of Independence. To most of the signers in some form, it actually happened. With exception of a few of the signers, all died penniless, after the British monarchy seized and sold all of their land and holdings, in 1777. Few of us can conceive of the vast consequences they suffered.
Allow me a few more moments. Picture that one of us, as a child at Christmas, being bright-eyed, witnessing with those same eyes our annual 1776 anniversary, the celebration of the Fourth of July fireworks. What manifestations would fulfill this youth’s vision. I hope it would be spiritually captivating, like for me the representative bombs bursting in air, as Francis Scott Key so penned in 1814 near Fort McHenry.
If we as a people are true to the Constitution, If we are of good will and foster peace, If we continue to search for knowledge with Goliath steps, If God be our only God and we always follow His laws, determining our forthcoming days by the history of these United States, we as citizens will prosper. May institutions of knowledge and houses of worship beautify every vale where we reside.
May we protect the Constitution, worshipping God, by joining a song of praise and reverence to the ruler of the Heavens, and of gratitude to those patriots who lived some 235 years ago, for the blessings of America’s liberty, self-determination, and sovereignty forever.
Chuck Wear, Gilroy
