“The day will be most memorable 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 solemnized with pomp and parade…bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” ~John Adams, July 3, 1776
The words of one of our founding fathers to this great nation. And future President of the United States of America.
Everyone across the United States will have their entire weekend filled with fun activities. Many of them will include fireworks. Many of us will go watch a local display of fireworks. And others will relax in the summer heat while enjoying the company of family, relatives, and friends.
So why do we have fireworks and why do we use them? Well for one, that is how our founding fathers celebrated. Fireworks were brought over to this country from Europe and they were used mainly to celebrate as well as intimidate the native Indians who were there at the time. A show of force, if you will.
Fireworks dazzle all of us. Every woman, child, and man. The young and the old. It does not matter who you are, as soon as you hear that first great big BOOM!! of the evening, your heart nearly skips a beat and you’re filled with wonder and gaze into the night sky beyond the stars to see what amazing colors will fill the air for that one glorious moment.
But I think that a few of us tend to forget that fireworks also are a representation of the Revoluntary War. The bombs and canons going off as we struggled to become a free country and gain our independence. We should not take our freedoms for granted. It came with a price. And even on that first Fourth of July, our nation’s future was unknown. We did not know if we would end up winning the battle. But it was something in which we believed in, and so we stood up and fought for it. That was our price.
And our men and women in the military service still fight for those same freedoms that we have today over two centuries later. They fight because we wish to preserve those freedoms for everyone, and we will never allow anyone to take them away from us.
As we celebrate the 235th birthday of our country, remember those who have fought and died for our country. Remember those who still fight.
Relax and enjoy our freedoms to be able to gather with loved ones and celebrate. Try to thank those people whom you know have served in our nation’s military. Everybody stay safe and have fun.
Happy Independence Day!!!!
Dambreaker 