First, let’s wish Signora Eleonora Barone, a very happy birthday!! 🙂
Now, a short lesson in American history…
hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
(from US History.org)
Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.[7]
So, on this one special day of the year for the United States, let’s all join, from every nation, country, and continent, and stand tall, proud, and brave, and united together, in pursuing our happiness and greatest passion – Il Volo!
Wishing everyone a safe, and happy, Fourth of July! Wherever you may be. Last year, Lorna and I were in Verona at their “last” concert from the Grande Amore tour. Talk about fireworks! Best 4th of July I ever had!! 🙂
Since everyone seemed to love it on the last post, I thought I’d post it again! Here they are, our beloved Il Volo, singing our cherished national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner! From 2013, at Dodger Stadium! (did you know the star-spangled banner refers to the American flag?)
Happy Independence Day! It appears that there is nothing these guys can’t sing. My IL Volo Twin Jan, always says they could sing from the phone book and we’d love it. How true. Thanks for our history lesson and your experiences from soooooooo long ago.
Yes, I think we can all agree on that one! Wouldn’t it be cute if they actually did that? Just take random names and just sang them? 🙂
Yes, it’s amazing what you remember!
That is the BEST rendition of the Star Spangled Banner I have ever heard. Of course it was sung by Il Volo the Best singers in the world. Happy 4th of July everyone.
You are absolutely right Loretta! Their version is unbelievably beautiful!! I hope we get the chance to hear them sing it again someday…
Jana love your history lessons. We are never to old to learn history or anything worth enlarging our brain
Thanks Loretta!! 🙂
Also wishing Mrs Barone a Happy Birthday
Beautiful post, Jana! I LOVE them singing our national anthem. As many have said before, they could sing the phone book and make it sound phenomenal! Happy 4th of July to all. Thankful for our freedom! God bless America!
Thanks, Jane! I was up late doing this one – lol! 🙂
Happy Birthday and many blessings to a wonderful woman. The history lesson was terrific. And I’d love the boys to sing ithe song again . I sure appreciate all of you. Happy Fourth to Everyone. You make my days much happier.
Victoria – yes, I think we’d all love to hear them sing this again…
I love your comments, it makes doing this site and keeping it running, all worth it!! I hope we are able to gain more new people that comment!
Grazie mille!
Il Volo’s version of The Star Spangled Banner was wonderful and it’s always nice to hear it again. I have always loved history and still do. I believe our country was truly blessed with the people who founded our nation. Happy 4th of July to all and God bless America! Happy Birthday to Mrs. Barone also!
I love the boys singing the anthem here, and especially in Boston.
But I have to say, I think it is a real good exercise to read the entire Declaration of Independence today, the whole thing, from beginning to end, including the names of those who signed it. It is hard for us to imagine how brave it was to fix their names on that document–pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
We owe them a lot–the least we can do is read their names!
That is so true! Gina sent us a little article on all of the signers and how many of them were jailed, or tortured, or lost everything later in life! How sad! This is what she sent us:
Five signers were captured
by the British as traitors, and tortured before they
died.
Twelve had their homes
ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving
in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons
captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and
died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large
plantation owners; men of means, well-educated, but they
signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well
that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a
wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from
the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and
properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by
the British that he was forced to move his family
almost constantly. He served in the Congress without
pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His
possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his
reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the
properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett,
Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson,Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The
home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and
properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and
she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his
wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children
fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in
forests and caves, returning home to find his wife
dead and his children vanished.
Wow, Jana, I didn’t know all that. They really paid. But look what they gave us! I hope they felt it was worth it…
I know, I never did either – thanks, Gina!! 🙂
I’m sure their families that remain feel it was worth it. Lives and livelihood lost is always heartbreaking.
They don’t call us the “land of the free and home of the brave” for nothing? 🙂
Jana, beautiful story lesson, very sad.
Compliments.
My hear is always full on this day. I am a first generation American and truly grateful that my parents left their families and came to this great country. My Ron fought in WWll to secure our freedom and I keep his flag over his desk as a reminder. Joanie G
That’s so awesome! Sad about Ron, was that your husband?
That is so wonderful to hear the Il Volo boys sing that which proves whatever they sing their voices enhanses any song they sing
Happ 4th of July to you Jana and all ilvoloflghtcrew! Have a fun and saf holiday!
Thank you!
Hope everyone has a great 4th.. Jana great job on the posts and thanks for your time in creating them. You work so enjoy your day today.
Thanks, Gina! 🙂 I love how you keep cheering us all on! 🙂
Happy 4th to everyone. If you are reading this you are in a happy place. I am listening to the boys singing Un Amore Cosi Grande now, one of the first CD’s and it still gives me goosebumps. They are so very special. Buon compleano to Eleonora Barone and thanks to her for sharing her son with us.
One of my favs… especially Igna’s part! 🙂
Happy July 4th to all of you.
Jana compliments for the post, you’re right the story is sometimes boring and you learn to appreciate it much later.
The guys singing your hymn are wonderful.
I found this collage on IL VOLO SICILIA and I find it very suitable.
Best wishes, to all crew
https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19665637_1518584184831483_7131832430096637394_n.jpg?oh=c9bfc6d4349c8535304b85d88aab3643&oe=5A0B00EC
Grazie mille! Yes, I saw this on Instragram. Very nice!! 🙂
Yes, sad that foreigners can sing it better than some nationals!
Hello all!
So glad you liked the post today. I was a little hesitant in posting the history lesson! So happy you did not mind hearing the guys again. 🙂
Enjoying my time off in Florida with my mom. Tomorrow is painting class! I think I’m going to paint some sunrises/sunsets on a glass. I took this one picture in Florence/Tuscany when we did our pizza class and it’s my all time favorite sunset picture!
thank you, Jana… appreciated the history.
and the guys singing the Star-Spangled Banner… and everything else.
happy fourth of july 2017 (am bit late to greet, but never too late to wish all of you a lovely time)
https://images-gmi-pmc.edge-generalmills.com/078f2164-0afd-4149-a9f1-b088c3864c92.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ca/82/7e/ca827ee30e61b4e0be059c9b5b370b34.gif
Awesome, thanks!
Ok, how do people put pictures in here??? 🙂 Is it a link to something?
hello Jana, i found that i can’t copy-paste pics directly. have to go online and copy-paste the link here. that usually works.
warm greetings
Thanks!
welcome, Jana
I wonder if John Hart ever found his children. I hope so. Thanks for the history lesson, never too old to learn something I didn’t know before.
Who knows? So sad….