America Turns 249 Today

The United States of America has a big birthday today. She is 249 years old today.

Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July or July 4th, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule. While the resolution for independence was actually approved on July 2, the 4th is celebrated because it’s the date the Declaration was formally adopted. This document, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, proclaimed the colonies’ separation and outlined their grievances against King George III, asserting principles of individual rights and self-governance.

The American flag has evolved through 27 different versions since its initial adoption in 1777, reflecting the nation’s growth and history. The flag’s design, with 13 stripes representing the original colonies and stars representing the states, has been modified 26 times to accommodate new states joining the Union.

President John F. Kennedy wrote to the Audubon Society: The Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.

Happy Birthday America. Thank you to all the brave men and women who gave us our freedoms, and who protect them for us everyday. May your banner forever wave and may we always be free.

Then

and now.

The Statue of Liberty stands tall as a beacon of hope and freedom. The Statue of Liberty embodies a rich tapestry of symbolism, representing ideals that resonate deeply with American history and values. At its core, the statue serves as a powerful emblem of liberty, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s (the designer and artist who created the Statue of Liberty) design drew from various influences, including the ancient Roman goddess Libertas, a symbol of freedom, who personified the ideals of emancipation and enlightenment. The statue’s crown, with seven rays, represents the seven continents, signifying liberty’s universal reach. The torch represents enlightenment and knowledge, illuminating the path to freedom. The tablet is inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776. This date is pivotal in American history, representing the birth of a nation founded on the principles of individual rights and democratic governance. The inscription emphasizes the foundational ideals upon which the United States was built and reaffirms the idea that liberty is a birthright for all people. Lady Liberty conveys the values associated with freedom — justice, equality, and the power of the individual. The statue is a reminder of the struggles that many have endured to achieve liberty, encouraging a sense of solidarity among those who seek to uphold these principles.

God Bless America

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America, my home sweet home,
God bless America, my home sweet home.

The Star-Spangled Banner (1st stanza)

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Happy Birthday America, the land that I love.