First, let’s wish Signora Eleonora Barone, a very happy birthday!! 🙂

Now, a short lesson in American history…

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

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]

(from Wikipedia)

Ok, I admit, American history was probably my most hated and boring of classes I ever had to take in high school. It was not helped by Sr. Angela Marie, a well-meaning, 4 ft,, soft-spoken, 80 year-old, little Felician nun. I barely passed with a grade of C. I can’t say I remember much of that entire year of American history, except I was so glad when it was over! I don’t ever recall having to read the declaration of independence, but I do remember Whitney invented the first steamboat, or was that Robert Fulton? (yes, I think Whitney did the cotton gin!) Ah, I probably slept through most of it.

However, as we grow older, we learn to appreciate the things we often hated most, like rules, and how important some of those things were; like understanding American history! (did you know that in an interview many years ago, Ignazio said he loved history – so smart at such a young age!) I can’t say I recall ever having heard the first paragraph of the declaration of independence, although as a class field trip in 1976, we went to see the movie 1776! It was our 200 year birthday of independence for the United States. I recall getting these HUGE chocolate candy bars, wrapped in red, white, and blue and I think Betsy Ross was on there somewhere. I also remember thinking the chocolate was not that great, not even Hershey grade. Ok I was about 11 – I was discerning, even back then…

Ah, “the pursuit of happiness…” Yes, I must tie this into the guys…. This declaration of independence gave us our freedom to be happy. And to follow our guys, is our greatest freedom, joy, and happiness! We know the guys love America and America loves the guys – at least our little part of it!