4th of July Story Strikes Again!

July 3, 2019

It looks peaceful, but they probably said horrible things about each other. (image via wikimedia)

The 4^th of July is a bit different from other United States holidays. Hardly any stores close, and most daily routines don’t change that much. Even so, it’s one of my favorite holidays, partially because of a childhood memory.

I’m over 50 years old now, and I don’t vividly remember many specific holiday moments. Between all of the Christmases and Thanksgivings and Easters that I’ve experienced, a lot of childhood holidays have blended in. One 4^th of July memory stands out, however, and I’m going to retell the story now.

4^th OF JULY STORY

Relax! This picture was created in 1902. It was okay for kids to fire off guns back then. (image via Wikipedia)

I was 10 when the United States turned 200 years old. It was a big deal back then, but at the time, the meaning of the 4^th of July was lost on me. As an adult, I understand July 4^th is the annual celebration of the signing and approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.

I understand how important the following sentence from The Declaration of Independence is:

“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.”

That one sentence had a bunch of concepts that were unique way back in 1776.

The Declaration of Independence is also known for John Hancock’s really big signature. As an adult, I appreciate how momentous the signing of that document was and how it began the process of liberating the colonies and forming one of the greatest nations in the world. I also appreciate John Hancock’s really big signature. Several jokes have been made about how a guy named John Hancock had a really big signature.

When I was a kid, I didn’t understand all this, including the John Hancock jokes. Back when I was 10, the 4^th of July was about shooting off fireworks. And 1976 was a great year to shoot off fireworks.

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